California is procuring satellite services within CALNET 3 and is seeking to award this new category to multiple vendors.
In an invitation for bid dated Jan. 8, the California Department of Technology says the the CALNET 3 Subcategory 10.1 and Subcategory 10.2 contracts for satellite telecommunications are intended to be similar to and eventually replace the contracts individual state agencies have agreed to for their own use.
CALNET 3 is the state’s multibillion-dollar telecommunication procurement providing an array of products and services from prequalified vendors to state and local departments and agencies. State officials say the contract’s benefits include more efficient procurement processes and built-in service level agreements.
Some state agencies and departments are required to utilize CALNET 3 contracts; others only are encouraged to do so. CALNET 3 also is open for use by local governments.
For the new satellite subcategory of services, the state is looking to create a purchasing vehicle that would offer “a full suite of statewide satellite voice and low-speed data services to Executive Branch Agencies and local government entities.” Solutions includes satellite voice services, satellite voice service plans and satellite phones and terminals.
“The state of California currently uses approximately 500 handheld satellite phones, 26 MSAT G2 locations and approximately 100 BGAN [Broadband Global Area Network] installations. Additional satellite phones and terminals are likely to be added in the future,” the invitation for bid says.
Under the bid’s key actions dates, draft bids currently are due March 17, 2016. Final bids are due a month later on April 25. Dates are subject to change.
Excluding satellite services, there currently are seven product categories in CALNET3, such as long distance, VoIP, network Web conferencing and managed Internet.
The first CALNET3 contracts were awarded in November 2013 to AT&T, CenturyLink, QGS; Integra Telecom, Jive Communications Inc., NWN Corp., and Verizon.
In recent months, some vendors have mentioned to the state that there could be some overlap between CALNET 3 solution offerings and the products available within CalCloud, the state’s private cloud.
