The City of Los Angeles is striving to provide wireless internet across their communities and work to close the digital divide. The City is looking for multiple lower cost, rapidly deployable solutions to fill in gaps in their coverage and service.

City of Los Angeles Bureau of Street Lighting leading a citywide initiative.

In order to provide equitable opportunities for residents, Los Angeles is working to ensure all residents and communities have access to broadband internet and WiFi. This has become even more critical with the response to COVID-19 as many schools, businesses, and traditional places where residents receive internet access remain closed or restricted.

In certain areas of Los Angeles, the City provides wireless internet to residents and some is provided by partners. Additionally, the City is creating connectivity and WiFi coverage maps citywide. Through this work, Los Angeles wants to identify and remedy where gaps exist in connectivity and provide free, accessible WiFi, ultimately seeking to close the digital divide and gaps in connectivity coverage. The City recognizes that both technology and the community needs may change, thus are seeking to have multiple solutions at their disposal to support different use cases.

The City has a variety of existing infrastructure including light poles, buildings, property and other public assets that they can leverage to assist the deployment of WiFi and internet. Information on the City's infrastructure can be found on the Bureau of Streetlights Website in the Business section and in the LA Lights Strategic Plan. Additional information on City of Los Angeles Streetlight (Shape File, etc.) and on Fiber Map can be found on Los Angeles Open Data Portal.

In situations where communities and residents lack WiFi, the City may look to deploy WiFi solutions by themselves or through community partners. The City is seeking partners and solutions that can be rapidly deployed to be used by the public.

The City's goal is to create a list of solutions and partners with a clear understanding of which types of solutions fit into to certain scenarios. For example, some solutions will be a better fit attaching to existing fiber and power, where as others would be good for more remote areas using solar/battery and cellular connection. The City understands a one sized fits all approach may not be appropriate for every use case.

The City cares not only about the ability to deliver a WiFi solution and the infrastructure needed, but also any associated offerings (charging, shelter, seating etc.) that are provided as well.

A successful partner will be able to provide a clear understanding of their solution, requirements to deploy in and the use cases where their deployments are the best fit.

The City is not requiring solutions to make use of or be part of city streetlights even though this is run through the Bureau of Streetlights. That is one potential asset but not a requirement.

A successful partner will have previously deployed these solutions at some scale beyond a pilot as well as have a clear outline on necessary requirements and timelines of both implementation and maintenance needs. Additionally, the partner should already have the necessary compliance with Federal and State communication equipment requirements.

While the City will have funding for some locations, the City is also interested in understanding if other funding and business models exist for these deployments. While the City is not seeking exact pricing at this time, as that may be location or volume specific, the City wants to understand from companies the pricing structure and model to have a cost estimate per deployment.

• Capabilities
• Prior Experience
• Pricing Model
• Additional Services

This opportunity was released on Monday, March 29, 2021.

The City will be reviewing the data from interested vendors and may request in person meetings or demonstrations with certain vendors.

The City is will use the responses of this opportunity and information from vendor meetings to create a qualified list(s) for future projects. Vendors from that list will receive invitations to bid on specific projects as they become available.

We will be accepting responses through Wednesday, May 12, 2021 at 10:00 pm.

The City of Los Angeles, California has partnered with Marketplace.city for a pilot to support technology sourcing and procurements. For selected topic areas, Marketplace.city provides The City of Los Angeles, California the market landscape of companies and solutions, comparable implementations, contracts and pricing options, and various procurement options. The City of Los Angeles, California then picks the solution, vendor and procurement vehicle that best fits their need.

For this project, Marketplace.city is waving its standard 7% fee paid by vendors and performing this project for Los Angeles as pilot at no cost to the City or the Vendor.