WireFree Wilkes-Barre, the non-profit group spearheading the initiative, has issued an RFP. Bids are due no later than April 30. This is a very tight window for bidders. The group only announced the RFP on April 20.WireFree Wilkes-Barre, the non-profit group spearheading the initiative, has issued an RFP. Bids are due no later than April 30. This is a very tight window for bidders. The group only announced the RFP on April 20. (We apologize for only now getting word online but we were unaware of the announcement until today.)
The announcement, however, comes as no surprise. The city has been working on the initiative since 2004 when Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton made it a priority. Its RFI process has been going on since November, 2005.
The drivers behind the initiative include public safety, efficiency of municipal operations, extending the network to support local universities and making it expandable to extend broadband access to outlying communities. Making affordable wireless access available to residents is among the goals but the RFP does not insist on specific performance levels. Instead, it states the goal to “ensure universal, affordable, in-home wireless broadband access for all Wilkes-Barre residents and residential subscribers
The group is looking to deploy a dual 2.4 / 4.9 Ghz network. Despite the tight window, the RFP is quite complete with details on the number of residents, demographics of the residential and business community, emerging business opportunities in Wilkes-Barre, anchor tenants committed to using the network, and specific details on financial commitments and opportunities presented to bidders.
The RFP’s background on the initiative (although it reads like a press release for the current administration), offers a great deal of background for bidders interested in the market potential that the project presents, including the number of residences, major businesses and insights on the city’s financial health and long-range economic development plans: .
Wire Free Wilkes-Barre, a partnership of the city of Wilkes-Barre, LuzerneCounty, King’s College, and Wilkes
University, is looking to partner with a private company that would build and own, minimizing costs to the public partners.
The RFP targets a completion date of May 1, 2008 for the city-wide network and August 18 for an operational area in the downtown area.
Click here for the city’s announcement of the project.
Click here to access the RFP.
Click here to read The Citizens’ Voice story.
No comments yet.