RFI_Weather_Radio_Systems.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS)

Request for Information

For

Weather Radio Systems

A. REQUIREMENT/PURPOSE:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Logistics Directorate has a requirement to procure weather radio systems - including alert radio receivers, strobe lights, bed shakers, and dual connectors - to be used in Recreational Vehicles (RVs), including travel trailers and fifth wheel trailers, being used as Transportable Temporary Housing Units (TTHUs) to house disaster survivors.

The weather radio systems will be used in FEMA-owned RVs as an alerting tool for disaster survivors, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing. FEMA-owned Manufactured Housing

Units (MHUs) which are also used as TTHUs already come equipped with weather radio systems. These systems must be purchased separately and installed in FEMA-owned RVs.

B. SCOPE

The Contractor shall furnish all professional, technical and clerical services as well as materials, equipment, facilities, and all else necessary for FEMA to administer a fully weather radio system according to the stated specifications and the project requirements as defined in this Statement of

Work (SOW). Weather radio systems provided by the Contractor must meet all requirements of this SOW at Section D. “Tracking and Recovery Device Specifications”.

C. DEFINITIONS:

a. Weather Radio System: A home alerting system used as an emergency weather alerting tool. The weather radio system can include alert radio receivers, as well as strobe lights, bed shakers, and dual connector for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.

b. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio All

Hazards: A nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from the nearest National Weather Service office. NWR broadcasts official Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

c. NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) Receiver: The physical radio receiver unit which picks up the NWR signal and alerts the TTHU occupant. When the warning is received, the receiver turns itself on, sounds an alarm, activates a warning light, write a short message

(e.g., TORNADO) on the display, and activates any external devices (strobe lights, sirens, vibrators, etc.) connected to the receiver.

d. Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME): Technology which allows life-saving messages broadcast on NWR to be targeted to a specific area. Weather radio receivers equipped with SAME technology can be programmed by the user to only alarm for weather and other emergency events in specific, desired counties, thereby eliminating unwanted alerts for areas that are not of concern to the listener.

e. Strobe Lights: Additional alerting system which is connected to the NWR receiver and will be activated when a warning message is received. Alert is provided by flashing lights, making it useful for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.

f. Bed Shakers: Additional alerting system which is connected to the NWR receiver and will be activated when a warning message is received. Alert is provided through generation of a strong vibration, making it useful for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.

g. Dual Connectors: An external jack needed to connect a bed shaker and strobe lights to the weather radio system at the same time.

D. WEATHER RADIO SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS

The weather radio systems required by this SOW must be equipped with SAME technology that allows the system to be programmed and targeted to a specific area. The weather radio system must include a NWR receiver which is capable of connecting to strobe lights and bed shakers to alert those who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Technical Requirements

Offerors must demonstrate the ability of their weather radio system devices and supporting software to meet the technical requirements provided in the “Weather Radio System” presentation and summarized below:

i. Demonstrate that the system is connected to the NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards network, with the ability to pick up weather information directly broadcast from the

National Weather Service

ii. Demonstrate that the system is equipped with SAME technology and ability for contractors to program system to alarm for specific weather and emergency events in specific, desired counties

iii. Demonstrate how the weather radio system functions in the event of a weather emergency o Demonstrate how the NWR receiver picks up the NWR signal o Demonstrate how the NWR receiver alerts the occupant after receiving the signal o Demonstrate how the other components of the weather radio system – bed shakers and strobe lights – connect to the NWR receiver via a dual connector o Demonstrate how the bed shakers and strobe lights alert the occupant of a weather emergency

iv. Generate reports depicting history of weather radio system alerts

In addition to the equipment and system requirements above, offerors must also demonstrate the process and timeline for alerting occupants of a weather emergency.