September 2, 2016–New Hampshire state authorities recently tabled a request to enter into a no-cost agreement with Rivada Networks LLC to have the company present an alternative state plan if New Hampshire decides to opt out of having the First Responder Network Authority’s (FirstNet) partner build its radio access network (RAN). The request was unanimously tabled at an Aug. 24 meeting of New Hampshire Gov. Margaret Hassan (D.) and the New Hampshire Executive Council.
An Aug. 10 letter from New Hampshire Safety Commissioner John Barthelmes to Gov. Hassan and the council noted that once FirstNet presents plans to states, governors only have 90 days to opt out. “This no-cost agreement allows the vendor time to develop a workable alternative to serve NH responders statewide should the Governor choose to opt-out of the plan presented by FirstNet,” Mr. Barthelmes said.
New Hampshire issued a request for proposals (RFP) in late 2015 “requesting proposals for the establishment of a public-private partnership to develop a statewide public safety communications network aligned with the FirstNet network,” the letter noted. “A nine-member subcommittee evaluated the proposals and, of the five responding vendors, only two met the qualifications needed with Rivada Networks providing the best comprehensive and complete proposal response.”
The second-highest scoring vendor was Parsons Corp., followed by Motorola Solutions, Inc., and Mutualink, Inc. Wireless Systems Solutions LLC got zero in the rating system. Rivada is one of three entities known to have submitted a bid in response to FirstNet’s RFP, leading the Rivada Mercury consortium. The other known bidders are AT&T, Inc., and a consortium organized by pdvWireless, Inc.
Rivada has come under criticism from some public safety officials who have complained that the company has urged some state officials to opt out of the FirstNet network (TRDaily, March 23 and 24). But Rivada has denied that it has done that. – Paul Kirby, paul.kirby@wolterskluwer.com
Courtesy TRDaily