Asset_Tracking_-70FA3019I00000005.pdf

Request for Information

Logistics Supply Chain Management System

Asset Tracking

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Logistics Management Directorate

Office of Response and Recovery

1 Synopsis

This is a Request For Information (RFI) to gauge the market for tracking assets and shipments.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), a component of Department of Homeland

Security (DHS), is researching innovative solutions, technologies, and services for tracking assets and shipments from fixed facilities within the United States using various modes of transportation including air, land, and sea. FEMA is reaching out to industry to identify product and service offerings that may support the agency in achieving its objective to track assets.

In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 10.002(b)(2)(i) this notice is issued for the purpose of market research. This request is for planning purposes only, and does not constitute a solicitation or an indication the government will contract for the items contained in this notice. This notice is not to be construed as an acquisition Request for Proposal (RFP), nor is any commitment on the part of the government to award a contract implied, nor does the government intend to pay for any information submitted as a result of this request. The government does not reimburse respondents for any cost associated with submission of the information being requested or reimburse expenses incurred to interested parties for responses to this notice. Any response received will not be used as a proposal. FEMA is not, at this time, seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals.

After reviewing responses to this RFI, FEMA may allow respondees to provide a demonstration of their technology or solution.

2 Purpose

The purpose of the RFI is to acquire market research on availability, capability and functionality of asset tracking technology and related service in support of the FEMA mission. FEMA is seeking industry input on asset tracking capabilities that could potentially enhance our future capabilities and provide improved visibility of assets and shipments for our customers, both in periods of normal operations and during surge periods triggered by disaster response operations.

3 Background

FEMA’s Logistics Management Directorate (LMD) is the program office responsible for policy, guidance, standards, execution and governance of agency logistics support, services and operations. In alignment with FEMA’s mission, LMD’s function is to provide an effective logistics capability for the procurement, transport, and delivery of goods and services during disasters and emergency situations.

LSCMS is the key supply chain management system utilized by FEMA for managing the supply chain of FEMA-owned assets and resources as well as those provided by Partners in other federal agencies (OFA) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), such as the Defense

Logistics Agency (DLA), The General Supply Administration (GSA), the US Army Corps of

Engineers (USACE), and others. The LSCMS tracks and reports the location of commodities for real time management, and provides real time visibility of inventory levels at all Distribution

Centers (DCs), Incident Support Bases (ISBs), and Transportable Temporary Housing Unit

(TTHU) sites. Additionally, LSCMS provides visibility of materiel delivered to state staging areas and local Points of Distribution (PODs).

The LSCMS Program completed the implementation of the Manhattan Associates (MA)

Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) 2016 version Software Suite in June of 2017 and migrated to the cloud in 2019.

FEMA currently uses a contractor to manage GPS tags (transponders) attached to FEMA trailers carrying disaster commodities from the distribution centers to disaster theaters. They also apply and track GPS units in the field at ISBs, provide GPS units and commercial GPS return kits to commercial truck drivers who do not have GPS units, and track GPS units attached to fixed assets deployed to disaster areas or GPS feeds relayed via satellite/cellular communications to track assets like emergency response vehicles or busses provisioned during a disaster.

FEMA currently owns Numerex SX1 and SmartOne B transponders which are fully self-contained, small outline global satellite based tracking devices capable of determining location using GPS and reporting that location over a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite network. The units are programmed to ping once a day, and every 30 minutes while in motion. The GPS transponders are affixed to FEMA vehicles, trailers, and assets by FEMA personnel at FEMA distribution centers, ISBs, or operating sites for FEMA fixed-location assets. FEMA maintains a ready stock of GPS transponders to accommodate planned shipping needs and provide for limited disaster surge capacity.

4 FEMA Asset Tracking Solution

Vendors capable of and interested in providing asset tracking expertise, an asset tracking methodology/ technology, satellite constellation services, or other industry expertise that may be used as the basis for a future asset tracking solution, should review and answer relevant questions in Section 4.1 of this document. Vendors are requested to provide a description of their capabilities or suggestions as they relate to the questions provided in Section 4.1. As a formal evaluation of the responses to this RFI will not be conducted, FEMA does not anticipate providing feedback and/or evaluation information to any firm responding to this RFI. However, FEMA may request additional information or conduct open exchanges of information with RFI respondents as deemed necessary.

4.1 Capabilities

4.1.1 Transponders

1) What power supply or power source is used?

2) What is the life expectancy or life cycle of the transponder model?

3) How is the transponder model disposed of? Can all or part of the transponder be recycled? If so, how?

4) How can the transponder be affixed to vehicles?

5) What devices, networks, and software is the device compatible with? What support is available for the device?

6) What security features, if any, are included or available for the device and any associated software?

7) What ancillary services are offered and by whom for the device?

8) What maintenance is required or associated with the device? How do you service it?

9) Is there a warranty associated or available with the device?

10) What are the device’s specs relating to durability and ruggedness? Is the device affected by water or saltwater?

11) What are the storage temperature limits for the device?

12) What are the operating temperature limits for the device?

13) What are the dimensions and weight of the device?

14) Is there any associated or required software for the device?

15) Is the device considered “smart” or “dumb” – is it a one-way or two-way device?

16) Has the device been utilized by a government agency or approved for use by a government agency already?

17) Where is the device manufactured?

18) How does the device operate under disaster conditions or circumstances?

19) What sellers and resellers exist for the device? Are they on an existing government contract vehicle?

20) Which network or satellite constellation is the device available on? Is the device not approved for use on any particular satellite constellation?

21) How well does the transponder operate for multi-modal movements?

4.1.2 Network

22) Is the network satellite, cellular, or both?

23) What type of data feeds and/or licenses are available?

24) How are available plans or subscriptions structured?

25) What sellers and resellers exist that provide access to the network?

26) What is the extent and quality of the coverage provided?

27) Under what circumstances would access to the network be unavailable?

4.1.3 Management Support Services

28) How do you coordinate and manage a pool of GPS devices?

29) How do you manage data feeds to and from external systems including carriers?

30) Can you support Extensible Markup Language (XML) data interfaces and services to a variety of third party software solutions?

31) How would you train FEMA personnel to perform and support device management functions at FEMA staging areas during surge and disaster operations?

32) How do you maintain reporting, visibility and location of the number of available devices identified by unique identifier code assigned to the specific mission(s)?

33) How would you transition and support GPS devices that FEMA currently uses?

34) How would you manage and monitor GPS positioning data?

35) How would you monitor and adjust the frequency of “pings” at rest or in motion required to provide visibility of assets/ shipments?

36) What would your methods be to reduce or optimize messaging costs?

37) What would your methods be to reduce overall program costs?

38) What innovative and technological advancements would you suggest or provide to improve FEMA’s approach to asset tracking and mission objectives?

39) Do you have relationships with trucking companies and do these companies use your devices today?

40) What satellite constellations do you use?

41) What approach or device would you recommend for multi-modal shipments?

4.2 Response Format Requested

Your answers must be provided in narrative or tabular format no later than 11:00 am EST

September 9, 2019 to Myron Waddell (Myron.Waddell@fema.dhs.gov ).

Please address the items listed in Section 3.1 above. As applicable, provide any additional information on products that your company provides along with a brief description of the approach your organization would take in providing the products contemplated in this RFI.

Responses are to be a maximum of 20 pages.

The responses to this RFI will be reviewed by staff from the FEMA Logistics Management

Directorate Logistics Supply Chain Management Systems Program Management Team and used to develop requirements for future acquisitions.

4.3 Information for the Response

The release of this RFI does not guarantee that the government will complete an acquisition. This

RFI is for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation for bids, proposals, or quotes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the government to issue a request for proposal/quote or award of a contract as a result of this request. This announcement is not a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a Request for Quote (RFQ). The government will not reimburse respondents for any cost associated with information submitted in response to this request.

mailto:Myron.Waddell@fema.dhs.gov

Small and 8(a) businesses are strongly encouraged to provide responses to this RFI, in order to assist FEMA in determining the potential levels of interest, competition, and technical capability within the Small Business community. In addition, the responses to this RFI will also be used to assist FEMA in establishing a basis for developing any subsequent potential subcontract plan small business goal percentages. Responses are encouraged from all groups such as:

∙ Small Business Community

∙ Service Disabled-Veteran Owned Small Businesses

∙ Veteran-Owned Small Businesses

∙ Women-owned Small Businesses

∙ HUBZone Small Businesses

∙ Small Disadvantaged Businesses

∙ Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions

∙ Small Business Joint Ventures, Consortiums and Teaming Partners

This request for information is issued to assist the agency in performing market research to determine whether or not there are qualified and capable Small Businesses to provide the aforementioned service.

4.4 How to Deliver the Response

• Questions and requests for clarifications on this RFI must be received no later than

5:00 pm EST August 28, 2019.

• Response packages should be sent by email.

• Response Due Date: Responses should be submitted no later than 11:00 am EST

September 9, 2019.

Proprietary information, if any, should be minimized and must be clearly marked. To aid the Government, please segregate proprietary information.