FEMA IPAWS TSSF Recompete RFI 8-22-25.docx

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) Request for Information (RFI)- FEMA IPAWS Division and TSSF Recompete 8/22/2025

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) Division, requires contractor support for Technical Support Services Facility (TSSF) services. The IPAWS Division maintains the IPAWS TSSF to provide technical support to the program, to more than 2,000 Alerting Authorities (AAs) authorized to use IPAWS, and to public and private sector partners across a variety of technical areas related to public alert and warning activities. The TSSF is staffed 24/7 with subject matter experts (SMEs) experienced in emergency management, public safety communications, public works, and broadcasting to assist AAs with using IPAWS. The TSSF provides expertise on the effective use and integration of IPAWS with local public alert and warning systems, plans, and programs. The facility is equipped to provide technical support for IPAWS activations, alert troubleshooting, Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) tests, monthly proficiency demonstrations, and other IPAWS-related requests. With this level of expertise and capabilities, the TSSF is known as the go-to source for over 2,000 agencies currently authorized to use IPAWS as part of their local public alert and warning practices.

The TSSF hosts a closed end-to-end IPAWS environment for alert creation and dissemination to all IPAWS pathways, including the Emergency Alert System (EAS), WEA, Non-Weather Emergency Messages, and the IPAWS All-Hazards Information Feed, so that AAs may train, practice, and exercise alert, warning, and notification procedures and processes. This IPAWS sandbox is also used to develop, test, and demonstrate the integration of new alert and warning technologies to provide best practices for AAs and Alert Origination Software Providers (AOSPs).

GENERAL INFORMATION: This RFI is issued solely for information gathering purposes to identify sources that can provide support for the IPAWS Division. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), RFIs may be used when the Government wants to obtain price, delivery, other market information, and capabilities for planning purposes. Responses to these RFIs are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. This RFI shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government for any purpose, nor does it restrict the Government to an ultimate acquisition approach. Respondents are solely responsible for all expenses associated with their RFI response. Respondents will not receive additional information in response to their submittal to the RFI and will not be notified of the resulting market research.

PROPRIETARY INFORMATION AND DISCLAIMERS: Respondents shall identify any proprietary information in its RFI response. Information submitted in response to this RFI will be used at the discretion of the Government. Further, the information submitted will remain confidential insofar as permitted by law, including the Freedom of Information and Privacy Acts. FEMA reserves the right to utilize any non-proprietary technical information in the anticipated SOW or solicitation.

Although it is not necessary to address in their response, respondents shall be aware of any potential, actual, or perceived organizational conflicts of interests. Any real or potential conflicts must be sufficiently mitigated prior to a contract award. For further guidance, refer to the Federal Acquisition Regulation, Part 9.5.

ANTICIPATED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: March of 2026

ATTACHMENT: Draft TSSF Recompete SOW

RFI RESPONSE SUBMITTAL INSTRUCTIONS:

Interested contractors shall submit their RFI questions and responses electronically to Erin Cotter, Contracting Officer, at Erin.Cotter@fema.dhs.gov no later than 3:00PM Eastern Standard Time (EST), September 5, 2026. Questions regarding this RFI are due no later than August 29, 2026. Only questions submitted via email will be accepted.

“RFI Response for FEMA IPAWS Division and TSSF Recompete” shall be in the subject line of your e-mail. All responses shall be unclassified, with proprietary information clearly marked. The document format shall be either Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx), or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) formats. Pages shall be 8.5 by 11 inch and shall use a type pitch that is no smaller than a standard 11-point font type, with the exception of charts, graphs, or tables, which shall use a pitch not smaller than 10-point font. Responses shall not exceed 13 pages in length including images, data displays, charts, graphs, and tables. Page limitation does not include: 1 cover page. Do not include promotional materials.

RFI Responses shall include the following information in the order below:

6. GSA Schedule Number or other Pre-positioned Contract Vehicle number (please identify the contract vehicle), Contract Number, and Period of Performance and/or DHS Strategic Sourcing Vehicle Category Name and Contract Number, if applicable

C. Contractor RFI Responses to questions (No more than 10 pages in length)

The responses received will assist FEMA with identifying the number and nature of the entities that consider themselves potential technical solution providers. Each respondent, by submitting a response, agrees that any cost incurred in response to this RFI, or in support of activities associated with this RFI, shall be the sole responsibility of the respondent. FEMA shall incur no obligations or liabilities whatsoever, to anyone, for any costs or expenses incurred by the respondent in responding to this RFI.

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) QUESTIONS

1. Is the Statement of Work (SOW) clear, concise, and/or sufficient to develop and submit the required information in response to a Request for Proposal (RFP)?

2. Does your company have experience establishing, managing, and manning a 24/7 on-site emergency communications or operations support center?

a. If so, please describe your relevant experience using specific examples.

b. Please describe your strategy for providing clear, timely reporting on system operations, particularly in an environment that involves time-sensitive activities related to alert and warning, emergency communications, or incident response.

c. Please describe your strategy for managing a combination of continuous monitoring, situational awareness, analysis, and on-call support within a fast-paced real-time emergency environment.

3. Is your company able to provide an innovative contractor-owned and contractor-operated (COCO) facility that meets the criteria for interactive training and 24/7 operations specified in the draft SOW (as listed in both the “Requirements and Objectives” section and the “Place of Performance” section)?

4. Does your company have experience helping customers improve their organizational and staff capabilities in the context of emergency communications?

a. If so, please describe your relevant experience using specific examples.

b. Please describe your strategy for supporting customer capability-building in the following areas:

i. Testing, exercises, and evaluation

ii. Instructional design, delivery, and enhancement of hands-on training using multiple delivery methods

iii. Process improvement recommendations

iv. Developing and implementing strategies to improve customer experience

5. Does your company have experience managing and optimizing customer relationship management (CRM) software and customer-facing support portals and resources?

a. If so, please describe your experience using specific examples.

b. Please describe your strategy for developing digitally hosted customer support resources such as guides, templates, and interactive training and support applications.

6. Does your company have experience researching, developing, testing, evaluating, and demonstrating new technologies and tools for emergency communications with the public?

a. If so, please describe your experience using specific examples.

b. Please describe your strategy for conducting technical testing and evaluation and technology demonstrations in a development and test environment that does not connect to the internet.

7. Describe your company’s recruiting, hiring, and staffing processes and how they would support the need to quickly onboard personnel with experience in emergency communications with the public, take prompt corrective action to address performance issues (including through removal), identify and replace underperformers within thirty (30) days, and maintain continuity of support for the work on this SOW, particularly with respect to the 24/7 on-site support coverage.

8. Describe your company’s experience working collaboratively with other contract teams alongside Federal staff as part of an integrated program using specific examples, including any experience collaborating on strategic priorities, knowledge-sharing, and integrated program management processes.