A request for proposals (RFP) was released today to select an administrator for an indoor 911 location accuracy test bed that the FCC mandated be established in an order released in January (TRDaily, Jan. 29). The RFP was released by 9-1-1 Location Technologies Test Bed LLC, an independent entity established by CTIA.

CTIA also announced today that the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions has been selected as the program manager for the test bed.

“ATIS will oversee test plan implementation carried out by the test bed administrator,” according to a CTIA news release. “The two-tiered partnership will ensure the test bed produces unbiased data in a timely manner for the various stakeholders in accordance with the FCC’s rule.”

“By establishing the test bed and working with ATIS, we are taking key steps toward meeting the FCC’s aggressive timelines. We look forward to partnering with the testing experts who can help industry and public safety stakeholders evaluate the performance of deployed and emerging wireless 9-1-1 location technologies, such as Z-axis,” said 9-1-1 Location Technologies Test Bed Vice President Tom Sawanobori, who also senior vice president and chief technology officer of CTIA.

Confirmations of an intention to submit a proposal are due Sept. 14, questions or comments on the RFP are due Sept. 21, responses to questions and comments will be released by Sept. 28, proposals are due Oct. 16, the selection of one or more vendors to present a proposal and a scope of work will occur by Nov. 6, and the selection of a vendor, if one is chosen, will occur by Dec. 31.

Wireless carriers have until Aug. 3, 2016, to establish the test bed.

“The Vendor will be responsible for data handling, analysis and reporting of all test results,” the RFP said. “This includes and is not limited to establishing a secure data distribution and storage facility; and procedures around controlled access to relevant Stakeholders. The Vendor will be responsible for data integrity, security, confidentiality and recoverable storage in accordance with industry standards around data elements of similar character and privacy sensitivity. Distribution, sharing and access to test results and reports must be dependable and secure.”

The vendor must also be based in the U.S.   “In the long run, the Test Bed should be a self-sustainable business that covers its own fixed and variable operating costs,” according to the RFP. “It is assumed that the fixed cost will be associated with establishing and maintaining the permanent cost items, while variable costs mostly relate to the number and scope of tests to be executed.”

In order to calculate cost estimates and resource allocation, the RFP said any vendors can assume that there will be (1) test regions in San Francisco and Atlanta, (2) at least 20 buildings per test region, (3) 100 indoor test cases per region, and (4) 100 911 test calls per test case. – Paul Kirby, paul.kirby@wolterskluwer.com