IFB 2015-01911 Next Generation 9-1-1 Systems and Services (Pre-Solicitation)

The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) has issued Invitation for Bid (IFB) 2015-01911 for Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) Core Services, seeking to establish multiple contracts for emergency communication systems serving 443 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) statewide. The procurement aims to replace traditional wireline emergency services with a comprehensive IP-based system capable of handling over 30 million annual calls with 99.9999% reliability, supporting voice, text, video, pictures, and email communications. Contractors must implement a complex technical infrastructure including Emergency Services Routing Proxy (ESRP), Border Control Function (BCF), Emergency Call Routing Function (ECRF), and Location Validation Function (LVF). The initial contract term is three years with four optional one-year extensions, for a maximum seven-year period, with system implementation required within 180 calendar days after contract award. Bidder qualifications include a minimum of three years experience with NG9-1-1 technologies, with responses originally due on July 8, 2016, at 2:00 PM PDT and a public bid opening on July 11, 2016. The comprehensive technical requirements mandate 24x7x365 maintenance coverage, extensive training programs, and monthly performance reporting with specific service level agreement (SLA) compliance metrics.

The solicitation includes several set-aside and preference programs, specifically designating 5% for Small Businesses and 1-3% incentives for Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (DVBE). Funding for the project will be drawn from the State Emergency Telephone Number Account (SETNA), which provides financial support to California PSAPs for emergency communication systems. Contractors must maintain general liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and provide a comprehensive cost model with both non-recurring and recurring charge components. While specific award values are not explicitly detailed, the scope suggests a significant multi-million dollar procurement covering statewide emergency communication infrastructure. The current environment includes some existing NG9-1-1 services previously procured through CALNET 2 contracts for 37 PSAPs in the Northeast Grant Project, indicating potential integration requirements with existing systems. Bidders are required to follow California Public Utilities Commission practices and NENA standards while facilitating carrier transition to Emergency Services IP Network (ESInet). All purchases under this contract must be explicitly authorized and approved by the California 9-1-1 Branch.