Swenson says FirstNet received bids, system cannot be ‘just any other network’ 

Swenson said she is glad that FirstNet opted for an objectives-based RFP instead of a traditional procurement approach that dictates requirements to potential bidders.

“If we had gone on a requirements-based RFP, I don’t think we would have received the innovation and the partnering that we see today in terms of the responses that we’ve received,” she said.

Now that the bids are in, Swenson said the FirstNet evaluation is acting quickly to review the proposals. FirstNet officials have said they hope to sign a 25-year deal with the selected contractor by Nov. 1.

One priority for FirstNet during the upcoming year will be to communicate with governors in states and territories about the FirstNet proposition before they make the critical choice whether to pursue the “opt-out” alternative of building the radio access network within their jurisdiction instead of having FirstNet do it.

“We want to make sure that the governors and their staffs have everything they need to make an informed decision,” Swenson said. “I’ve said it from the very beginning: the governors can make any decision that they want, but I want them to make it based on fact and not on misinformation.”

Swenson also reiterated a statement that she first made to Congress early last year when asked whether the network would be built by 2022.

“I still feel that if we don’t get this network deployed, we should all be shot,” she said—a statement that was greeted with applause and laughter from the audience.