Maine State Communications Network Project

By Lavana Snyder and Stanley Fage

The October 4th proposal due date for MSCommNet (Maine State Communications Network Project) has arrived and left behind a plethora of boxes. The RFP was released by DAFS on June 29th to find a vendor that will provide the turnkey systems integration services for design, engineer, furnish, installation, commission and migration to service of the Maine State Communications Network. The components of the public safety communications network include: structures, VHF repeaters, microwave backhaul and user equipment.

The six proposals received are: Alcatel, Tyco Electronics, GE Transportation, Globecomm Systems, Alutiiq, and Motorola. As you can see from the picture of Stan, there were over forty boxes received. No small task for any evaluation team. However the team has already begun evaluations and are hoping to be ready to award by the beginning of 2008. After contract completion, the bidders were asked to accomplish the deployment project within a thirty month timeline.

At the conclusion of the systems integrator contract and the MSCommNet project the State will own and operate a modernized, fully functioning, highly reliable, digital voice Public Safety and Public Service radio network including supporting infrastructure.