Alabama Extends Deadline for FirstNet RAN Proposals
Alabama extended its deadline for alternative public safety radio access network (RAN) proposals to 15 business days after FirstNet announces a vendor for the national network, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said in a news release Friday. It also will…
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accept anonymous questions about the request for proposal until Oct. 24, it said. Responses to the Alabama request for proposal were due Friday; it extended the deadline after multiple vendors said they would wouldn’t bid until FirstNet’s announcement, which is expected Nov. 1. Rivada made such an announcement last week (see 1610130032). “The state purposely chose to issue the RFP and receive responses prior to the announcement of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) nationwide partner to ensure the highest level of competition and largest number of responses possible,” the Alabama agency wrote. “Such an approach was intended to enable the best set of possible choices for the first responders and citizens of Alabama.” The state changed its mind after receiving six requests for a deadline extension and 12 requests to “entertain questions” about the RFP, it said. Rivada agreed last month to develop an alternative public safety broadband plan for the New Hampshire Department of Safety for the state to compare with a proposal that FirstNet will develop (see 1609070063). Arizona also has an RFP for alternative RAN plans, with responses due Oct. 31.