World Surveillance Group Inc (fka WSGI)

[nilremerlin]

I wonder how we're doing on this one with Blue Horizon:

Sacramento has put out a bid for a citywide Wi-Fi network that will offer free basic service (starting at 300 Kbps) and paid Internet access to residents and businesses. Sacramento has a population of 435,000 and covers 97 square miles. They want the initial deployment to cover the central business district, followed by a citywide deployment within two years.

I reported in early June 2006 that the city had been negotiating with MobilePro for the deployment of a network but the company decided to pull out.

Among the key points in the RFP are the city’s use of the network and the digital inclusion provisions.

Municipal use

The city wants to use the network free of charge for the term of the agreement (5 years) and the terms of use include use on a priority basis at 1MBPS or greater, and on a separate and dedicated SSID. The city is willing to consider proposals where it could become an “anchor tenant” to support its use of the network. The proposer may offer multiple “anchor tenant” scenarios for the city to select.

Digital Inclusion

If a bidder wants to use advertising to support the free service, then 7% or greater of gross advertising revenue has to be allocated to support a nonprofit organization. Bidders may offer alternative approaches to funding digital inclusion, for example, the bidder may partner with an existing non-profit to provide the following funded by the 7% of gross advertising revenue: subsidizing accounts for low income residents, purchasing computers, creating additional free access points in schools, libraries, community centers, and providing technical services to qualified households.

Following is an outline of the anticipated procurement schedule:

* Mandatory Pre-Proposal Conf: August 1, 2006
* Last day to submit questions: August 11, 2006
* Responses to written questions and issuance of addenda: August 18, 2006
* Written Proposals Due: September 29, 2006
* Interviews/Oral Presentations: October 2006
* Evaluation Committee Recommendation: November 7, 2006
* Contract Negotiation w/ Proposer: November 2006
* Contract Award & Notice to Proceed: December 5, 2006

All correspondence should be directed to Mr. Thanh Vo, IT Project Manager at 916-808-7988, or [e-mail].

Go to the Sacramento website to view the bid and download the RFP (you need to register). If you just want to see the RFP, click here (posted on Muniwireless, but I will not update this so if you want to bid, please rely on the city’s website).

http://muniwireless.com/municipal/bids/1287

nilremerlin