Companies developing communications technology solutions should be aware that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science & Technology Directorate (S&T) is seeking information on emerging technologies that address six “capability gaps” faced by the nation’s first responder community. Agency Requests for Information (RFIs) are a vehicle for stakeholders to provide input and shape the opportunity. Read on for more information on what DHS is seeking and contact us for a consultation.
TechVision21 can assist businesses to understand the complex and evolving public safety communications landscape, and the particular financing and technology challenges that it faces. The TechVision21 team has deep experience with Federal telecommunications policy, standards, broadband deployment, and disaster response efforts.
We have tremendous expertise in planning, building, financing, and operating public safety communications networks. Our senior acquisition executives have experience leading teams that bid and won contracts for major defense, public safety, and public health information networks.
In mid-November the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science & Technology Directorate issued an RFI seeking information on late-stage emerging technologies that address six capability gaps faced by first responders. The deadline for submitting information is December 10, 2014.
DHS is planning to host a demonstration and operational assessment of promising technologies in 2015. A government working group has begun planning the event. The group is encouraging industry and other non-government technology developers to submit their late-stage developing technologies for possible inclusion into the planned event, as well as the Urban OpEx activities.
The Operational Experimentation (OpEx) program will create an opportunity for end-users to evaluate emerging technologies in realistic scenarios in an operational urban setting (Urban OpEx). Although it is anticipated that only government developed technologies will be demonstrated, the potential exists for privately developed technologies to be included. If private technologies are to be included DHS will issue a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA).
DHS is looking for emerging technologies that address six identified Capability Gaps faced by the nation’s first responder community:
- Situational Awareness, defined as the capability to obtain and distill specific knowledge concerning threats, hazards and conditions in a timely matter to support incident management decisions across all phases of a catastrophic incident response.
- Communications, defined as the capability to seamlessly and dynamically connect multiple persons or entities and convey meaningful and actionable information to all relevant parties.
- Command Control and Coordination, defined as the ability to identify incident priorities, allocate scarce resources and exchange relevant information to make effective decisions in a stressful environment.
- Responder Health, Safety and Performance, defined as the ability to identify hazards to public safety personnel and develop appropriate mitigations to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with response activities.
- Logistics and Resource Management, defined as the ability to identify, acquire, track and distribute mission specific equipment, supplies and personnel in support of catastrophic incident response.
- Casualty Management, defined as the ability to provide rapid and effective search and rescue, medical response, prophylaxis and decontamination for large numbers of incident casualties and identify appropriate sheltering, transportation and destination options.
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