70RSAT26RFI000013 PI RFI .pdf

PIID: 70RSAT26RFI000013

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T)

Partnership Intermediary Agreements Concerning Improving Technology Transfer and

Commercialization of Technology for the Homeland Security Enterprise

NOTE: THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This RFI is issued solely for information and market research planning purposes. This RFI shall not be construed as an obligation on the part of the Government. This is NOT a request for quotations or proposals. No solicitation document exists, and the Government may or may not issue a formal solicitation as a result of the responses received to this RFI.

The Government will not pay for any response or demonstration expenses. All costs incurred responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party's expense. Failure to respond to this RFI will not preclude participation in any future solicitation. Any information received will become the property of the Government and will not be returned to the Submitter. Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary or sensitive information.

The Government’s explicit intent, in this RFI, is to not receive from respondents any proprietary data, trade secrets, business sensitive information, or information considered CONFIDENTIAL under 18 U.S.C. §1905. The Government’s constraint does not in any way relieve respondents from their responsibility to properly mark proprietary data when it is provided, nor does it alleviate any requirement for the Government to protect marked data.

The information provided in this RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government.

All submissions become the property of the Federal government and will not be returned.

Government technical experts drawn from staff within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other Federal agencies may review responses. The Government may use selected support contractor personnel to assist in the review of the RFI responses. These support contractors will be bound by appropriate non-disclosure agreements to protect proprietary information.

I. PURPOSE OF THIS RFI

The purpose of this RFI is to collect information from qualified and interested sources with the capability and experience in providing services identified in the RFI.

II. BACKGROUND/DESCRIPTION

The DHS, Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has an interest in entering into one or more Partnership Intermediary Agreement(s) (PIA) pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 3715, with a Partnership Intermediary (Pl), as defined in 15 U.S.C. 3715 (c), to expand its existing PI network by providing services to support the technology transfer and commercialization of technology solutions for use by DHS and the Homeland Security Enterprise (HSE). All eligible PIs may respond, even if they have an active Agreement or Contract with DHS S&T.

DHS S&T will work with PIs to increase the likelihood of success in the conduct of collaborative or joint activities and to stimulate and promote technology development, and outbound and inbound transfer of technology between DHS S&T and academia, industry, and Federal laboratories.

III. QUESTIONS FOR INDUSTRY

The objective of this RFI is to identify PIs nationwide. DHS S&T is requesting those entities that are eligible to enter into a PIA as defined in 15 U.S.C. § 3715 (c) to express their interest by submitting a statement outlining their capabilities as they align to one or more of the following objectives:

1. How could you meet the technical needs and requirements identified in Section IV?

2. Describe the qualifications and experience of the key personnel who could perform the tasks outlined in the notice.

3. Identify existing national or regional partnerships with industry and university academia.

4. Have you provided a recent and similar type and scope of services as the current requirements for any U.S. Federal government agencies? If so, please provide supporting details.

IV. TECHNICAL NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS:

1. Recruiting and Outreach

a. Perform services for Federal laboratories, including FFRDCs that increase the likelihood of success in the conduct of cooperative or joint activities of such Federal laboratories with small business firms, institutions of higher learning, or educational institutions.

b. Assists, counsel, evaluate or otherwise cooperates with small businesses, educational institutions, or institutions of higher learning making use of Federal laboratories, including FFRDCs.

c. Examine and analyze alternative business practices and models or commercially applied or emerging processes and tools to enhance technology transfer opportunities into or out of DHS.

d. Facilitate collaboration, matchmaking, and connections through events;

clearinghouses; coordination with convening bodies, such as Manufacturing Extension Partnership Centers; providing collaboration spaces; and other means to bring together potential solution providers to complement the activities of DHS programs, DHS Laboratories, and DHS Facilities.

e. Facilitate or assist in the awarding of research, development, demonstration and/or deployment funding, innovation hubs, collaborations, public-private partnerships, SBIR/STTR or other funding/programs.

f. Facilitate rapid prototyping, demonstration, deployment, and/or manufacturing, in furtherance of DHS’s mission.

g. Provide technical assistance to increase outreach and lower barriers of access for domestic small businesses, academic institutions, non-traditional partners, and industry, with the goal of increasing the likelihood of engagement between such entities and DHS and its Laboratories.

h. Provide access to physical collaboration space(s) with tools that can enable virtual engagements. Host planned and ad-hoc engagements with DHS and members of the innovative academic and industrial base across the nation.

i. Plan and execute outreach, training, events, and other programs.

j. Assist in technology scouting and horizon scanning for DHS laboratories and

FFRDCs, including technology and market research, and hosting technology showcases.

k. Assist DHS laboratories with identifying promising mission relevant technologies that currently exist or are in the developmental phase at DHS and other Federal laboratories, including FFRDCs, that could be transitioned to the market.

2. Business Development

a. Technology Commercialization Plans (out of government) – develop strategies and campaigns as a conduit to assist in transferring government technologies to industry for commercialization

b. Intellectual Property – develop strategies and campaigns that provide a legal and proper assignment of rights pertaining to the technologies developed in the course of innovation research and development

3. Tech Scouting and Transition

a. Tech Scouting and Foraging – access markets, extract pertinent technologies, and exploit opportunities to integrate existing technologies into the HSE

b. Horizon Scanning – access markets, extract pertinent technologies, and exploit opportunities to integrate emerging technologies into the HSE

4. Prototyping

a. Provide prototyping services, capabilities and expertise in support of DHS S&T Program Managers and DHS Components and the HSE and to accelerate technology demonstration, test and evaluation.

b. Identify and provide access to networks of talent and non-traditional innovators across multiple disciplines related to DHS S&T, DHS Components and the HSE that provide prototyping services and capabilities

5. Events

a. Meetings, Conferences or Other Events – organize and host events to showcase technology(ies) relevant to DHS S&T, DHS Components and the HSE and to accelerate the technology transfer and commercialization of these technologies

b. Subject Matter Experts - establish a network of experts, with a focus on the First Responders community, to engage with DHS S&T Program Managers to review and evaluate promising technology solutions for technology transfer and commercialization to industry and the HSE

6. Physical Collaboration Space

a. Provide access to physical collaboration space(s) with tools that can enable virtual engagements and ad-hoc engagements with DHS and members of the innovative academic and industrial base.

b. Provide access to physical collaboration space(s) that facilitate rapid prototyping, demonstration, deployment, and/or manufacturing, in furtherance of DHS’s mission.

c. Plan and host training events and other outreach programs relevant to First Responder operations and the academic, industry and HSE entities that provide technology solutions to the First Responders community.

7. Demonstration and Test

a. Provide space for hosting demonstration and test events, or the ability to leverage additional spaces, as necessary, for Demonstration and Test events.

b. Provide specialized expertise, as necessary, for demonstration and test events or activities.

V. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Responses need to include a Cover Letter with the following information:

1) RFI Notice ID number 70RSAT26RFI000013;

2) Company legal business name and physical address;

3) Type of entity, e.g. small business concern, non/not for profit, or educational institution, etc.;

4) Company Points of Contact (POC) including phone numbers and email addresses;

5) A comprehensive response that addresses the 4 questions delineated above (Section III);

and

6) Identify if your entity would be interested in competing for this requirement as a prime contractor or subcontractor, if solicited. If subcontracting, identify any joint ventures or teaming arrangements that would be pursued.

The total submission page count must not exceed 6 pages and must be legible when viewed at 100% magnification on a computer screen in the application native to the submission’s file type (e.g. (*.pdf) Adobe Acrobat or (*.doc/x) Microsoft Word, a cover page may be included and is excluded from the page count).

All responses shall be submitted via email to the DHS Office of Procurement Operations (OPO) Contracting Officer (CO) Jennifer K. Koons (jennifer.koons@hq.dhs.gov) and Contract Specialist (CS) Frances Gray (frances.gray@hq.dhs.gov) no later than close of business on August 30, 2026.

VI. INDUSTRY DAY

The Government may hold an Industry Day for this requirement. Details regarding an Industry Day will be provided at a later time.

Note: The Government reserves the right to hold one-on-one meetings as a result of responses received from this RFI as part of its market research. Meetings may be held with entities who provide comprehensive and relevant responses to the topic and questions in this notice.

mailto:john.whipple@hq.dhs.gov mailto:frances.gray@hq.dhs.gov