Tomorrow is big day for bids in $400 million New York radio project
It’s an open question just how many potential prime contractors, subcontractors and attorneys will crowd into the auditorium at the New York State Nurses Association conference center in Latham, N.Y., tomorrow from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
What’s at stake is the right to submit a bid for the state of New York’s Statewide Wireless Network intended to serve federal, state and local government entities operating within the state’s borders. The New York system is a plum among radio communications network construction projects, and money will flow through the prime contractor on a variety of equipment, software, engineering services and construction specialists and technicians.
The cost of the SWN project has been estimated at $400 million. A statement from the New York State Office for Technology, which administers the project, reads: “The actual amount that will be required to be spent to design, construct, operate and maintain the SWN will be determined based upon the bid proposals submitted in response to” the bid solicitation.
The SWN will provide an integrated, digital, trunked land mobile radio communications network with voice and data capabilities for use by public safety and public service agencies.
The June 26 meeting is a “pre-bid” conference, and notices from those who intend to bid are due no later than 5 p.m. that day. Qualified bidders must be represented by at least one attorney, in person, at the conference. Vendors that do not send representatives to tomorrow’s conference will be excluded from responding to the bid solicitation.
Principals and companies wanting to participate in the SWN construction as subcontractors are not required attend and to have legal counsel at the meeting, but the state “strongly encourages” them to do so.
The state has been accepting and responding to questions from potential bidders since issuing its request for proposals for the SWN project, and it will continue to answer questions until July 10. Bid proposals are due Oct. 2.
