FirstNet选定的承包商将获得20兆赫的频谱，并获得高达65亿美元的资金，以支持拟议的公共安全宽带网络的建设和运营，但承包商必须25年的交易期内向FirstNet支付至少56.25亿美元，根据今天发布的征求建议书（RFP）
与大多数政府相关采购不同，FirstNet RFP并未要求FirstNet成为国家电信和信息管理局（NTIA）内的独立机构，NTIA是一个政府机构，负责向承包商支付产品或服务的费用
FirstNet将向承包商提供高达65亿美元的资金，但业内专家表示，这一数字远低于承包商为部署和运营拟议中的全国宽带网络所需投资的数百亿美元。然而，获得价值20兆赫的连续700兆赫频谱，并能够优先获得新的公共安全客户和二级商业用户，预计将是潜投标人的主要吸引力
RFP商业模式下，FirstNet将为承包商提供频谱接入，并提供高达65亿美元的资金。作为回报，承包商将建设和运营全国公共安全网络，同时定期向FirstNet支付资金，为该组织的运营提供资金
根据RFP，承包商将合同的前五年每年向FirstNet支付至少8000万美元，第二年支付金额为1.3亿美元。交易的第11年，年度付款将增加到2.05亿美元，合同第16年增加到3.05亿美元，合同的最后四年中，每年都需要4.3亿美元
总的来说，最低支付门槛为56.25亿美元
根据FirstNet RFP，“报价人可以提议超过这些最低付款阈值的付款。”
对这些付款金额的一个潜的警告是，投标人将能够分配他们从56个州和地区获得的净收入值。根据RFP，如果这些州和地区中的任何一个决定不承担其边界内部署LTE无线接入网络（RAN）的责任，则承包商向FirstNet支付的金额将进行调整，以反映失去的收入机会
投标截止日期为4月29日。根据征求建议书，FirstNet预计将于11月1日授予合同。上周，FirstNet首席执行官迈克·波思（Mike Poth）表示，计划是年底前选定中标人并签署合同，但这一时间表可能会根据必须评估的投标数量进行调整
FirstNet’s selected contractor will gain access to 20 MHz of spectrum and receive as much as $6.5 billion to support the buildout and operation of the proposed public-safety broadband network, but the contractor must pay FirstNet a minimum of $5.625 billion over the life of the 25-year deal, according to the request for proposal (RFP) released today.
Unlike most government-related procurements, the FirstNet RFP does not call for FirstNet—an independent authority within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), a government agency—to pay a contractor to provide a product or service.
FirstNet will provide as much as $6.5 billion to the contractor, but industry experts say that figure is well below the tens of billions of dollars that a contractor will have to invest in the deployment and operation of the proposed nationwide broadband network. However, gaining access to the valuable 20 MHz of contiguous 700 MHz spectrum—with the ability to gain new public-safety customers on a priority basis and secondary commercial users—is expected to be the primary enticement to potential bidders.
Under the RFP business model, FirstNet would provide the contractor with access to the spectrum and as much as $6.5 billion. In return, the contractor would build and operate the nationwide public-safety network, while making regular payments to FirstNet that would fund the organization’s operations.
According to the RFP, the contractor would pay FirstNet at least $80 million during each of the first five years of the contract, with the payment amount the following year to $130 million. The annual payments would be increased to $205 million in Year 11 of the deal, to $305 million in Year 16 of the contract, and a $430 million would be required during each of the last four years of the contract.
In total, the minimum payment thresholds are $5.625 billion.
“The offeror may propose payments above these minimum payment thresholds,” according to the FirstNet RFP.
One potential caveat to these payment amounts is that bidders will be able to assign a net-revenue value they project to receive from each of the 56 states and territories. If any of those states and territories decide to opt out—assuming the responsibility to deploy the LTE radio access network (RAN) within it boundaries—the contractor payment amount to FirstNet will be adjusted to reflect the lost revenue opportunity, according to the RFP.
Bids are due on April 29. FirstNet estimates that it will award the contract on Nov. 1, according to the RFP. Last week, FirstNet CEO Mike Poth said the plan is to select a winning bidder and sign a contract by the end of the year, but that timetable could be adjusted based on the number of bids that have to be evaluated. |
