Contractors looking to submit proposals for the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) could see a final request for proposals draft available by December.

The congressionally-mandated network plans to use $7 billion to build a 700 MHz spectrum platform that will put an end to decades-long interoperability and communications challenges. This makes FirstNet the first high-speed, nationwide wireless broadband network dedicated to public safety.

In an interview on the Federal Drive with Tom Temin, FirstNet President TJ Kennedy said the new agency could be a cost effective way to build a self-sustaining nationwide broadband network.

“Its very unique. It’s not something that’s been done like this before, and it really could set an example for a great way to have a public-private partnership,” he said.

Although FirstNet is housed in the Department of Commerce, it operates as an independent entity and receives its funding directly from Congress.

Kennedy also said FirstNet plans on launching the network nationwide over the next five years in phases — the first of which involves transitioning current public safety networks onto the 700MHz spectrum.

“They’ve all been notified since 2007 that they would need to be moving off of the spectrum to allow for the broadband network,” Kennedy said. “We’re now in the stage of working with them to make sure that they migrate to other narrowband spectrum for those public safety narrowband users and other users that are in the spectrum.”

Other phases involve the state-by-state network integration into the spectrum with rural build-out programs. From there, public safety officials can buy into the network and receive services such as encryption protection and app stores that meet the needs of mission critical operations.

“Those particular five phases mean that some states will come up sooner than others because of their size,” Kennedy said. “But as they come up, they will go online as soon as they are deployed and tuned into a particular area. ”

Kennedy said devices designed for FirstNet already are in progress, and  the technology to run a nationwide system already is available.

“The key equipment is actually LTE cellular equipment that is commercially off the shelf.  There will be, I’m sure, very unique and specialized devices also made for public safety that are hardened, but there will also be everyday devices that are utilized today,” he said.

While an RFP will be available before the end of the calendar year, it could take another 12-to-18 months before an award is made.

Kennedy said FirstNet’s success will come from cooperation on both sides of the playing field.

“Because of its size and scope, it’s quite large, but we’re driving down an objectives based procurement so that different industry partners can look at it in different ways,” he said. “At the end of the day, we need a public-private partnership.”

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