5. FirstNet is sending out an invite RFP: Will anyone come?
In this View From the Top blog, Andrew Seybold offers some suggestions on how FirstNet’s upcoming final request for proposal should be formulated to draw the attention of commercial partners. Seybold warns that FirstNet cannot be procured like “things or services” as in other RFP models. In order to successfully provide a nationwide public-safety broadband network (NPBSN), he says, the RFP process must focus on the partnership more than the penalties. “FirstNet must set reasonable milestones and be truly open to the concept of partnering and teaming, as opposed to simply demanding. When paying 100% of the cost of procurement, it is fine to demand what you want and impose penalties when you don’t get it. However, when seeking partners to join as a member of a team, demands should only be made for the benefit of the customer (public safety), and all partners should have a way of resolving issues.”
In this View From the Top blog, Andrew Seybold offers some suggestions on how FirstNet’s upcoming final request for proposal should be formulated to draw the attention of commercial partners. Seybold warns that FirstNet cannot be procured like “things or services” as in other RFP models. In order to successfully provide a nationwide public-safety broadband network (NPBSN), he says, the RFP process must focus on the partnership more than the penalties. “FirstNet must set reasonable milestones and be truly open to the concept of partnering and teaming, as opposed to simply demanding. When paying 100% of the cost of procurement, it is fine to demand what you want and impose penalties when you don’t get it. However, when seeking partners to join as a member of a team, demands should only be made for the benefit of the customer (public safety), and all partners should have a way of resolving issues.”