The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, was passed to improve the capabilities of public safety communications by creating a National Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN). States are calling for FirstNet’s board to govern the network and to consult with states and local governments to ensure its success.
The consultations with the states is being conducted primarily through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) State and Local Implementation Planning Grant Program (SLIGP). The SLIGP program is administered by NTIA to assist regional, state, local, and tribal government entities as they plan for a nationwide public safety broadband network.
SLIGP grant funding was awarded to Oklahoma for $1,924,814 with a non-federal match for $481,204. Grants support planning, consultation, education, and outreach activities as well as collect data on existing infrastructure and equipment to be used by the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) to build a wireless public safety broadband network.
The state plans to use the Oklahoma Association of Regional Councils, eleven existing regional councils, and eight existing Oklahoma homeland security regions as primary vehicles for education and outreach to local jurisdictions.
To find a qualified consultant to lead and implement the program, the State of Oklahoma’s Office of Management and Enterprise Services in their Information Services Division, issued a solicitation (0900000133) on April 15.
At the end of the state’s SLIGP program, the state intends to deliver a multi-phased plan to the Governor, FirstNet, and to NTIA that outlines a blueprint for a successful and sustainable PSBN in Oklahoma.
Go to www.ok.gov/cio/documents/Solicitation0900000133.pdf for the full solicitation. The solicitation is due May 15, 2014. The Contracting Officer is Allen Cook at allen.cook@omes.ok.gov.