Rivada Networks has been pushing itself as an alternative to AT&T as states’ FirstNet build partner, and it seems it’s found an audience in Michigan that’s at least willing to consider it.
In a release late last week, the Michigan’s Department of Technology, Management, and Budget revealed Rivada received the highest score among three bidders that responded to a Request for Proposal for the state’s FirstNet build, handily beating out competing bids from Crown Castle and Macquarie Infrastructure Development. The department recommended the state consider Rivada’s proposal against the AT&T plan offered by FirstNet as part of its effort to determine the “best value bid” for the build.
The news comes just days after FirstNet and AT&T announced they had handed over detailed build plans to the states.
Rivada Networks Co-CEO Declan Ganley said in a statement the company was “honored” its plan would be in the running, and praised Michigan’s decision to put out an RFP as a move that offered “real choice.”
But Rivada is far from a shoe-in for network construction in Michigan.
In its review of Rivada’s FirstNet bid, the DTMB noted the company’s proposed build team – which includes Ericsson, Nokia, and Intel Security – has “no history of working together…on a similar project.” Additionally, the DTMB points out Rivada’s bid details what it is willing to contribute, but “fails to identify a no-cost model for the State of Michigan for establishing and maintaining the network as required.” Concerns are also present about “sub-contractors being complaint to federal and state standards,” the DTMB added.
Rivada doesn’t appear to be deterred by these doubts.
The company said Michigan is the second state – coming after New Hampshire – to go out to bid for an alternative FirstNet plan, and noted Rivada has been picked as the preferred bidder in both. According to Rivada, six other states also have RFPs pending or currently in evaluation.
“With FirstNet’s draft state plans now in Governors’ hands, we expect more states to follow Michigan’s (and) New Hampshire’s leads,” Ganley said. “We look forward to the opportunity to have our plan compared directly with FirstNet’s.”
Filed Under: Infrastructure
