Cellular Signal Coverage Study

Town of Madison
Request for Proposals (RFP)
Cellular Signal Coverage Study
1. Introduction
The Town of Madison, Connecticut ("Town") is soliciting proposals from qualified firms or
consultants to conduct a comprehensive cellular signal coverage study within the Town's
municipal boundaries. The purpose of this study is to assess existing wireless coverage,
identify gaps or deficiencies in service, and provide data-driven recommendations to inform
future planning, public safety, and infrastructure decision-making.
2. Background
Madison is a shoreline community located in New Haven County, Connecticut. Reliable
cellular service is essential for residents, businesses, visitors, and emergency services. The
Town seeks an objective, technically sound analysis of current cellular coverage conditions
across all major carriers and technologies, including voice and data services.
The results of this study may be used to support municipal planning efforts, public safety
initiatives, regulatory reviews, and coordination with wireless service providers.
3. Objectives
The objectives of this project include, but are not limited to:
Evaluating existing cellular coverage throughout the Town of Madison
Identifying areas of weak, unreliable, or nonexistent service
Assessing coverage for both voice and data services
Considering implications for public safety communications
Providing clear, actionable recommendations for improving coverage
4. Scope of Services
The selected consultant shall perform, at a minimum, the following tasks:
4.1. Data Collection and Analysis
Review existing available data related to cellular infrastructure and coverage
Identify major wireless carriers serving the area (e.g., AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and
others as applicable) and the extent of service coverage for each carrier.
Evaluate coverage across relevant technologies (e.g., LTE, 5G, voice)
4.2. Field Testing and Mapping

Conduct field measurements and/or drive testing to assess real-world signal strength and
service reliability. Field measurements must be conducted to the extent required to
deliver a "heat map" style of analysis by carrier.
Evaluate coverage in:
Residential areas
Commercial areas
Coastal areas
Public buildings and facilities
Major roadways
Environmentally or topographically challenging areas
Produce GIS-based or equivalent maps illustrating coverage levels and gaps
4.3. Public Safety Considerations
Assess cellular coverage related to emergency response and public safety needs
Identify critical gaps affecting first responders, emergency communications, and
resiliency
4.4. Findings and Recommendations
Identify causes of coverage gaps (e.g., terrain, infrastructure limitations)
Provide technically feasible recommendations to improve service per carrier
Outline potential infrastructure solutions and planning considerations
Present findings in a clear, non-technical format suitable for public presentation
5. Deliverables
At a minimum, the consultant shall provide:
Draft Technical Report summarizing methodology, findings, and preliminary
recommendations
Final Report, incorporating Town feedback, including:
Executive summary
Coverage maps and graphics clearly displaying signal availability/intensity (by carrier)
within the boundaries of the entire Town of Madison.
Identification of coverage gaps

Recommendations and implementation considerations
Digital files of all maps and data used in the study
Presentation to Town staff and Board of Selectman, total of 2 presentations.
6. Project Schedule
Proposers shall include a proposed project schedule, including key milestones. The Town
anticipates the project to be completed within 6 months of contract execution.
7. Consultant Qualifications
Proposals must demonstrate:
Experience conducting cellular or wireless coverage studies
Technical expertise in wireless communications and signal analysis
Experience working with municipalities or public agencies
Familiarity with Connecticut or New England geography (preferred)
Qualifications of key personnel assigned to the project
8. Proposal Submission Requirements
Proposals shall include the following:
Cover Letter
Firm Overview and Qualifications
Proposed Approach and Methodology
Project Team and Resumes
Relevant Experience and References - provide examples of (5) similar studies in the last 5
years.
Project Schedule
Cost Proposal, including a detailed breakdown of fees and hourly rates for any personnel
who will be involved in the project
Exceptions or Assumptions, if any
9. Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based on:
Understanding of the project and proposed methodology

Experience and qualifications of the firm and project team
Quality and clarity of deliverables
Cost and overall value to the Town
References and past performance
The Town reserves the right to interview proposers and to select the proposal deemed to be in
the best interest of the Town.
10. Submission Instructions
Sealed proposals must be received no later than:
Date: May 15, 2026
Time: 11:30 AM
Proposals shall be submitted to:
Jeanne Stevens
Town of Madison
8 Campus Dr., Madison CT 06443
Proposals will be opened at 11:30 AM on May 15, 2026 in Room A at Madison Town Hall 8
Campus Dr., Madison CT. 06443.
11. General Conditions
The Town reserves the right to reject any or all proposals.
The Town may waive informalities or minor defects in proposals.
All costs incurred in preparing a proposal are the responsibility of the proposer.
Questions related to this RFP must be submitted via email to deburrase@madisonct.org no
later than 4:00 PM Thursday May 7, 2026.
All questions and responses thereto, as well as any other necessary addendums, will be
published on the Town of Madison's website under the "Resources and Forms" tab, then
"Bid/RFP Postings" and State of CT/DAS site by 4:00 PM Friday, May 8, 2026.

Addendum 1
Cellular Signal Coverage Study
RFP Questions
1. Section 4.2 mentions public buildings and facilities/commercial areas/coastal areas, is
this an indoor or walk test requirement. If this is a requirement are you able to provide
more details such as building location and floor plans/estimated sq footage ect..
a. Vendors should propose taking field measurements in a sampling of the areas
required to make a "heat map," which would require visiting a sampling of public
(Town owned) facilities throughout Town. It is up to the vendor to propose what
they think is necessary to complete this study, the Town is not specifying an
exact number of facilities to visit, with exception of 3 Schools that should be
evaluated. Daniel Hand High School 286 Green Hill Rd., Polson Middle School
302 Green Hill Rd. and Brown Elementary School 980 Durham Rd. Access to
these schools shall be coordinated through the Principals of each School.
2. Section 4.3 is this referring to FirstNet? These are not commercially available SIM
cards
a. Yes FirstNet would be included and any other carrier that provides priority for first
responders.
3. Are only the major roads within the town boundary required including highways?
a. No, all roads should be included.
4. Could the Town please confirm whether it has an updated inventory or database of
existing wireless carrier sites located within the Town limits? If available, would the
Town be able to share this information during Project execution?
a. 4.1 includes identification of major wireless carriers and extent of coverage as
part of the Vendor's scope. The Town does not have this information
5. Could the Town identify the primary geographic areas of interest for this study? Based
on our preliminary understanding, would it be appropriate to consider East River,
Hammonasset Point, Madison Center, North Madison, and Rockland as key focus
areas, or does the Town wish to define a different or broader priority area set?
a. Study is Town-wide
6. Does the Town require the study to assess indoor cellular coverage within any public
buildings, facilities, or other structures?
a. Yes, this is listed as a requirement in 4.2. It is up to the vendor to propose what
they think is necessary to complete this study, the Town is not specifying an
exact number of facilities to visit with exception of 3 Schools that should be
evaluated. Daniel Hand High School 286 Green Hill Rd., Polson Middle School
302 Green Hill Rd. and Brown Elementary School 980 Durham Rd. Access to
these schools shall be coordinated through the Principals of each School...

7. If indoor studies are of interest, could the Town provide a prioritized list of public
buildings, municipal facilities, or other essential locations that it would like included in
the study?
a. It is up to the vendor to propose what they think is necessary to complete this
study, the Town is not specifying an exact number of facilities to visit, with
exception of 3 Schools identified above.
8. With respect to Item 4.3, "Public Safety Considerations," could the Town clarify what is
intended by "emergency communications"? Is this analysis intended to focus on service
coverage by FirstNet?
a. This is for general cell coverage, but FirstNet should be a consideration.
9. For the requirement of presentation to Town Staff and Board of Selectman, would these
2 meetings be in person? If so, would they happen on consecutive days?
a. In person. Not on consecutive days
10. Can the Town provide a brief list of critical indoor and outdoor coverage priorities,
including public safety facilities, high-occupancy buildings, and major roadways?
a. No. A heat-map style of analysis is required, not a priority-based approach.
11. Are there priority outdoor locations, such as parks, waterfronts, or major roadways,
where densification is most critical or receives constituent complaints?
a. No. A heat-map style of analysis is required, not a priority-based approach.
12. Are there specific first responder departments or facilities (buildings, towers) that require
ERRCS-compliant coverage or priority signal reliability not addressed today?
a. No
13. Does the Town have a list of specific buildings or addresses for indoor RF benchmark
testing (all Tier 1 MNOs), or should the consultant focus analysis on outdoor areas
only?
a. It is up to the vendor to propose what they think is necessary to complete this
study, the Town is not specifying an exact number of facilities to visit..
14. If indoor is in scope, should surveys include all floors, basements, and high-occupancy
indoor spaces?
a. It is up to the vendor to propose what they think is necessary to complete this
study, the Town is not specifying an exact number of facilities to visit..
15. Will the Town provide any existing municipal maps or building floor plans to assist with
analysis upon award?
a. Maps will not be provided since they are available through a variety of public
sources. General building space plans are available for various facilities.
16. Should the study explicitly verify ERRCS compliance for indoor public safety coverage?
a. No
17. Are there existing indoor cellular networks or repeaters that should be evaluated or
integrated into recommendations?
a. There is an indoor WilsonPro cell amplifier system at Neck River Elementary
School which was installed in 2025. It is not necessary to visit the interior of this
site.
18. Is the Town interested in a Neutral Host DAS solution design to support multiple carriers
in problematic municipal facilities?

a. No, this is a general town-wide study, not specific to any facility. The data from
this study may be used to develop a DAS plan in the future where needed.
19. Should the study include specific OEM/vendor equipment recommendations, or focus
on general DAS/ERRCS design guidance?
a. Specific equipment recommendations
20. Should the study recommend outdoor network densification solutions (e.g., small cells,
macro site upgrades) for public areas / r/w access to be addressed by Tier 1 MNOs at a
future date?
a. Yes, locations of potential tower sites is one of the primary goals of this RFP.
21. Does the Town have preferred tools for heat map generation (e.g., iBwave, Eino AI,
ATOLL), or can the consultant select the most appropriate method?
a. Consultant can develop the heat map using any tool they prefer, the Town does
not have any such tools.
22. Should consult provide recommendations for Private LTE/5G network(s) via CBRS for
use case needs not addressed by public cellular or WiFi?
a. This is likely not needed. We have not discussed the need for a local LTE
network.