CISA Issues RFI for Priority Communications Services Procurement Effort

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has asked industry for information on available communications capabilities as it plans to recompete $500 million in contracts for priority voice, data and video communications and information services during natural disasters and national security emergencies, Bloomberg Government reported Friday.

A request for information published Tuesday says CISA is seeking mission support capabilities including performance, service and fraud management and user assistance and usage reporting in support of the National Security and Emergency Preparedness Priority Telecommunications Services program.

The RFI lists several requirements that potential offerors should meet, including enhanced priority treatment, security, mobility, interoperability, hazard resilience, broadband service, scalable bandwidth, affordability and performance monitoring.

Interested vendors should respond to several questions about evolving technologies that could improve priority communications services, how cloud and other technologies could help transport and protect priority communications and how artificial intelligence, machine learning and 5G can work together to deliver secure priority communications support to first responders, public safety and national security officials.

Responses to the RFI are due Feb. 25.

AT&T (NYSE: T), Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and the federal operations business of T-Mobile US (Nasdaq: TMUS) are the incumbents on the NS/EP PTS contracts and BGOV said the U.S. government has obligated $364 million in funds on such contracts since 2014.

CISA will provide funding and the Defense Information Systems Agency will serve as contracting authority in the proposed follow-on contract.

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