When bidding municipal wireless networks, system integrators must take into consideration the costs and implications associated with utilizing mounting assets throughout the municipality. Often, at least in my experience, the availability and costs for municipality-owned mounting assets, such as street light poles, are not well-defined prior to the release of the RFP. When bidding municipal wireless networks, system integrators must take into consideration the costs and implications associated with utilizing mounting assets throughout the municipality. Often, at least in my experience, the availability and costs for municipality-owned mounting assets, such as street light poles, are not well-defined prior to the release of the RFP.
Each bidder must then attempt to acquire this information independent from the municipality and other bidders in order to define operational costs for the proposal. This process likely leads to inaccurate bids because of assumptions that each bidder must make. Unless a utility company, for example, has a standard rate for leasing use of light poles, then leasing costs may not even be available in time before the system integrators must submit their bids.
The problem above can be elevated if municipalities take the lead in determining associated mounting asset availability and lease information prior to releasing the RFP. This can be done by performing an inventory of potential mounting assets and discussing implications and leasing costs with the owners of the assets. By making this information public as part of the RFP, each bidder will be working with the same asset availability and cost information. This levels the playing field and makes cost proposals in bids more accurate and reliable. It also allows the bidders to concentrate more on defining an effective technical solution.
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