The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is seeking information on emerging technologies that address challenges faced by the United States’ first responder community.
Information will be used to assess technologies for their ability to provide a solution to previously identified high priority capability gaps, including:
- Geolocation of responders and assessing their proximity to risks and hazards in real time.
- Detection, monitoring and analyzing of passive and active threats and hazards at incident scenes in real time.
- Rapid identification of hazardous agents and contaminants, including improved standoff detection and identification of multiple hazards, multi-sensor integration and analysis, and risk assessment and decision support to command.
- Incorporation of multiple and nontraditional sources (crowdsourcing, social media) into incident command operations.
- Identifying trends and patterns in large volume data.
- Improved communications with responders in any environmental conditions, including through barriers, inside buildings and underground.
- Communication systems integrated with PPE, hands free, and ergonomically optimized.
Remote monitoring the tactical actions and progress of all responders involved in the incident in real time. - Identification of hazards to first responders and appropriate mitigations to reduce morbidity and mortality.
- Protective clothing and equipment for all responders such as modular mission-specific protective layers and wearable materials that can easily decontaminated.
- Real-time logistic and resources capability identification in crisis situations.
- Remote scanning for signs of life and decomposition to identify and locate casualties and fatalities.
- Integrated casualty management data and decision support systems.
DHS S&T is considering hosting a demonstration and operational assessment of promising technologies in Fiscal Year 2015. Currently, only government-developed technologies are anticipated to be demonstrated, but the potential exists for privately developed technologies to be included as well.
If it is determined that such technologies be included, a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) will be issued which will contain evaluation criteria and any agreement needed to further evaluate technology. Companies, educational institutions, laboratories and other organizations are invited to submit information on their products.
Further details are available under Solicitation Number: RFI-15-04. The response deadline is Dec. 10, 2014.