January 3, 2017–The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) has set a Jan. 31 deadline for responses to its request for proposals (RFPs) for an alternative plan for deploying a public safety broadband radio access network (RAN) in the state. After originally setting two deadlines for bids, the agency in October established a deadline of 15 business days after the First Responder Network Authority’s (FirstNet) announcement of a partner (TRDaily, Oct. 14, 2016). However, the agency noted in a Dec. 29 news release that a contract award is expected to be delayed further by litigation and that FirstNet officials have indicated they will be ready to move forward quickly once a contract is awarded. “Based on FirstNet’s continued diligence towards providing the 56 states and territories with a viable state plan as soon as 90 days after the announcement of its nationwide partner, ALEA has determined that it is in the state’s best interest to establish a final deadline for Alabama’s PSBRAN,” it said. “This will allow the state to properly review RFP proposals prior to delivery of the state’s FirstNet draft state plan.”

Courtesy TRDaily