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Authority updates FY25 grant guidance to add NG911 provider, testing and contract requirements
Summary
The Oklahoma 9‑1‑1 Management Authority approved new NG911 deployment language in FY25 grant guidelines that requires call-handling equipment vendors to certify testing and compliance, references an interconnectivity policy and sets contract submission timing.
The Oklahoma 9‑1‑1 Management Authority on a special-meeting vote revised its fiscal-year 2025 grant guidelines to add Next Generation 9‑1‑1 deployment requirements, technical standards for call-handling equipment (CHE) and contract-submission timing.
Why it matters: the revisions aim to align grant-funded equipment purchases with the state's planned NG911 core services and an interconnectivity policy the authority expects to finalize. The changes require applicants to upload draft CHE contracts with grant applications and to ensure fully executed contracts are uploaded to the grant portal within 90 days after execution. The guideline text also requires CHE vendors to “certify the grant funding CHE will undergo testing in a state provided lab to ensure compliance and readiness.”
Board and vendor discussion focused on how testing would be administered and who would bear costs. Lance (staff member) described the new NG911 deployment section as including provider-agreement language, technical requirements, compliance with originating service providers (OSPs) and contract submission requirements and noted the authority is under contract with Mission Critical Partners for a baseline technical approach. Mary Harris, an authority member, urged specificity: “Could I suggest that we actually put the name of the policy there instead of just technical requirements so that it's more it's kind of very vague right now.” The board adopted that edit; the approved language names the interconnectivity policy as the relevant standard.
Vendor and member input: Brent Hawkinson (authority member and industry participant) described vendor testing practices and cautioned about state-run lab costs. “From my perspective, you know, all the vendors... most all of them have their own labs of some sort that they run these through,” he said, and added that setting up and maintaining a state lab would be “a pretty expensive endeavor for the state to undertake.” Board members discussed contracting with a third-party lab or relying on vendor/third-party testing as an alternative. Staff said the strategic plan and draft policy call for a “state-provided lab” to be run under contract, not by state employees.
The board approved the guideline changes on a roll-call vote. Motion: Mary Harris; second: Nick Correo. Recorded yes votes included Adam Griffith; Melinda McGee; Ben Curry; Brandon Reynolds; Christie Brown; Greg Fisher; Justin Carnegie; Mary Harris; Nick Correo.
Ending: Staff will publish the revised FY25 grant guidelines, include a contract-language template for CHE providers and require applicants to upload CHE drafts with their grant submissions. The authority said it will continue refining the interconnectivity policy and technical testing procedures with technical committee input and the vendor community before implementation.
