COMMERCE BUSINESS DAILY ISSUE OF JUNE 5, 2001 PSA #2865
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PUBLIC SAFETY WIRELESS NETWORK (PSWN) PROGRAM
- Notice Date
- June 1, 2001
- Contracting Office
- U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, ERF -- Bldg. #27958A, Quantico, VA 22135
- ZIP Code
- 22135
- Description
- The PSWN Program is seeking information from the wireless communications industry and its affiliates regarding building, maintaining, and/or managing land mobile radio (LMR) networks offered to public safety users under leased service agreements. The program is interested in such information in support of an analysis it is conducting, and of a subsequent open report it will publish, to inform the public safety community and others about the viability of this concept. The benefits of industry responding to this notice is that they will have a chance to have their views regarding this service offering reflected in a report that will receive broad distribution to the public safety community. The number of users such networks would support is indefinite at this time. Interested parties should consider opportunities targeted at the state and local levels (i.e., regional in nature) that could also potentially support federal users operating in these regions. In addition, interested parties should consider the viability and availability of such services on a nationwide basis in their own right to support federal agencies with public safety missions. More specifically, the PSWN Program is examining the key issues associated with fee-for-service arrangements for public safety LMR. These issues include: the feasibility for public safety agencies, economics of such arrangements, enabling conditions or special arrangements required, overall commercial viability, vendor plans and concepts for pursuing this option, attractiveness of this option based on geographic, demographic, or other factors, etc. Thus, the program is interested in obtaining information in relation to these issues as well as in response to the following: (1) Level of Interest in Providing Such Leased Services -- Respondents interested in providing leased LMR services to public safety agencies are asked to explain the financial, business operations, billing, technological, systems management and maintenance, and other reasons behind their view. Respondents are also asked to comment on the shape that this wireless industry segment could take over time in terms of the types of firms, organizations, partnerships, and the like that may emerge. Respondents not interested in such an arrangement or who believe such an industry segment will not emerge are asked to provide their rationale as well. (2) Implementation Options -- Respondents interested in providing leased LMR services to public safety agencies are asked to describe how they would propose to implement regional, leased networks, as well as how they would propose to facilitate network access by other users for interoperability purposes. Respondents should describe any relevant terms, waivers, or conditions necessary to enable federal user access to regional, leased LMR systems. They should also elaborate on the feasibility of nationwide implementation and availability. Presenting multiple options is encouraged. (3) Trade-Off Perspective -- Respondents interested in providing leased LMR services are asked to describe their view of the trade-off of leased systems with the more traditional government owned-and-operated private network concept, to include single-agency standalone systems, regional or statewide shared systems, and consolidated nationwide systems. Respondents are asked to comment on the relative advantages and disadvantages in hopes their responses will help develop a framework for decision makers considering different alternatives as part of capital investment analyses and decisions. (4) Barriers and Enablers to Interoperability -- Respondents should describe the risks and other potential roadblocks to interoperability associated with such arrangements. This should include characteristics that could hinder other users (including federal users) from seeking access on existing leased systems designed for certain state or local public safety users. This should also include the feasibility of interconnecting non-leased systems with leased systems (and the factors associated with this). Respondents are asked to also address the implications of leased systems operating in the numerous frequency bands to which public safety has or will soon have access, and other characteristics of such systems that the respondents feel could impede interoperability. Conversely, respondents should also comment on the extent that such systems could be fashioned or utilized to foster improved interoperability among public safety LMR communications. (5) Existing Leased Systems or Those Currently Under Development -- Respondents having implemented, or who are in the process of implementing, leased LMR networks utilized by a public safety organization(s) are asked to describe the scenario that lead to the implementation and to describe the scope of the network implemented. They are asked to provide lessons learned for public safety. They are also requested to provide specific examples where possible, and remedies taken in relation to, issues raised above. The PSWN Program is a joint initiative between the Department of Justice and the Department of the Treasury focusing on improving wireless communications interoperability among public safety organizations. (See www.pswn.gov or call (800) 565-PSWN for additional information on the program.) POCs Derek H. Siegle, Program Manager, PSWN Program, Department of Justice; Julio R. Murphy, Program Manager, PSWN Program, Department of the Treasury. Please submit responses postmarked or time-stamped no later than June 25, 2001. Information can be mailed to: The PSWN Program, P.O. Box 3926, Fairfax, VA 22038-3926, or sent via FAX to (703) 279-2035. CITE:
- Record
- Loren Data Corp. 20010605/SPMSC023.HTM (W-152 SN50N6L5)
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