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zero-day vulnerabilities are retained by federal agencies each year, a Columbia University report estimates
FirstNet misses contract award deadline
Just days before the target deadline, CEO Mike Poth said the First Respond- er Network Authority would not award the contract for its nationwide broad- band public safety network on Nov. 1 as anticipated.
“FirstNet will continue to execute the acquisition process outlined in the [request for proposals] beyond the Nov. 1 target date for the award,” he said in an Oct. 28 statement on FirstNet’s website. “We will continue to work diligently with our federal partners to complete the RFP process in line with the [Federal Acquisition Regu- lation] while being as transparent as allowable.”
Although he could not discuss the specifics of the acquisition process, Poth said FirstNet officials were “mov- ing closer to a contract award in accor- dance” with the FAR.
FirstNet issued its RFP for the sprawling, national emergency radio network in January. The RFP — which has more than 50 sections, maps and tables — was the result of more than a year of dialogue with public safety and industry leaders on its objectives and scope. FirstNet issued 13 requests for information and a series of draft RFPs, convened two public industry
days, answered more than 650 ques- tions related to network specifications and met with interested vendors before crafting the final RFP.
In addition, FirstNet officials out- lined an ambitious plan to select a lead vendor by November and have final
original plan was ambitious, and the organization, which is overseen by the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration, had been working hard to stay on schedule.
“We developed and issued the
“This is a highly complex acquisition that requires the input and support of multiple agencies and entities.”
deployment plans in place next year. The lead vendor will spearhead the effort to build the nationwide network in the LTE band and offer interoperable connectivity to public safety officials. The network was mandated by Con- gress and is being funded with $6.5 billion in seed capital. However, it is expected to cost much more to build, with some estimates running as high
as $47 billion.
The plan is for vendors to realize
profits by leasing unused spectrum to mobile carriers and other potential users.
In his statement, Poth said the
— MIKE POTH, FIRSTNET
request for proposals in January, answered several hundred questions about its content, and received and evaluated proposals from offerors,” he said.
The schedule depends on many fac- tors, some of which are out of the orga- nization’s control, he added.
“This is a highly complex acquisition that requires the input and support of multiple agencies and entities,” Poth said. “It is critical that all parties are thorough and follow the necessary pro- cesses so that FirstNet gets this right for public safety.”
— Mark Rockwell
FCW CALENDAR
NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN
FCW’s Federal 100 awards offer the best opportunity to honor federal IT’s top performers in government and industry. Submit nominations at FCW.com/2017fed100 by Dec. 23.
11/16 Acquisition
Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology
and Logistics Frank Kendall and SSA CIO Robert Klopp are among the many speakers at the Federal IT Acquisition Summit.
Washington, D.C. fcw.com/events/fias-2016
12/15 Homeland security
DHS CIO Luke McCormack and Chief Procurement
Officer Soraya Correa are featured speakers at Washington Technology’s DHS Industry Day. Tysons, Va.
is.gd/WT_DHS
November/December 2016 FCW.COM 3