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SAFECOM and NCSWIC Publish Resource for LMR Subscriber Units Procurement

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Author: Ted Lawson, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Joint SAFECOM and NCSWIC Technology Policy Committee

Procuring land mobile radio (LMR) subscriber units can be a challenging process filled with many opportunities and pitfalls for the procuring agency. The ultimate goal is to procure radio units that meet the operability and interoperability needs of the user community, taking the necessary steps a procuring agency or entity should follow to ensure the success of that goal.

To support the procurement process, the Joint SAFECOM and National Council of Statewide Interoperability Coordinators (NCSWIC) Technology Policy Committee is pleased to announce the publication of the Request for Proposal (RFP) Best Practices for Land Mobile Radio (LMR) Subscriber Units Procurement Toolkit (“RFP Toolkit”), a four-part document suite that introduces federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, and regional public safety agencies and entities to the RFP and request for information (RFI) process for procuring LMR subscriber units (radio units). The RFP Toolkit, which was developed and approved by the LMR user community, draws upon the experiences of SAFECOM and NCSWIC members who have been involved in similar procurements.

While the RFP Toolkit is not intended to address every factor associated with LMR subscriber unit procurement or to solve all problems, each component of the toolkit can serve as an introductory or guidance resource for public safety emergency communications planners, administrators, and users. Each document is presented in a manner that provides flexibility to support the agency or entity seeking RFP or RFI guidance. The RFP Toolkit recognizes that agencies and entities at all levels of government have differing needs and resources, and encourages users of these documents to consult governing procurement policy, officers, or legal counsel when approaching RFP and RFI planning and development.

The RFP Toolkit includes the documents outlined below. An overview document outlining each product of the RFP Toolkit is available at www.dhs.gov/technology.

  • RFP Best Practices for LMR Subscriber Units Procurement ("Do’s and Don’ts"): Summarizes high-level best practices the public safety community should consider when planning and developing LMR subscriber unit RFPs
  • RFP and RFI Development Timeline for LMR Subscriber Units Procurement: Maps the timeline and significant steps involved in developing an RFP or RFI to purchase LMR subscriber units.
  • RFP and RFI Roles and Responsibilities for LMR Subscriber Units Procurement: Outlines the roles and responsibilities which the public safety community should consider when creating a team to plan, develop, issue LMR subscriber unit RFPs
  • RFP and RFI Sample Language and Resources for LMR Subscriber Units: Provides sample content structure and language, along with a list of general user resources, for developing LMR subscriber unit RFPs and RFIs.

All RFP Toolkit products are available at www.dhs.gov/publication/lmr-and-broadband-evolution. For additional information or questions about the RFP Toolkit, please contact SAFECOMGovernance@hq.dhs.gov.