DHS_S T_OpEx_RFI.docx

Emerging technology solutions for urban first responder’s capability gaps

A. INTRODUCTION:

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’ urban first responder community. Information will be used to assess technologies’ ability to provide a solution to previously identified high priority capability gaps, which are outlined below.

This is a Request for Information (RFI) only, as defined in FAR 15.201(c) and 5.205(c). Responses should be focused on the technology areas identified below and must be Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 or above. The Government does not intend to make a contract award on the basis of this RFI. Responses will be treated as information only. Companies that respond will not be paid for the information submitted and the Government will not pay for any submission preparation/related costs.

Documents submitted in response to this RFI will not be returned. The Government is under no obligation to provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted under this RFI. There is no guarantee that any submission in response to this RFI will result in a Government invitation to the demonstration and operational assessment. The Government may or may not use any responses to this RFI as a basis for a subsequent project.

The Government is considering hosting a demonstration and operational assessment of promising technologies in November 2016 called Science and Technology (S&T) Urban Operational Experimentation (OpEx). S&T Urban OpEx is a program designed to bring together urban first responder communities and technology developers to identify emerging technology solutions to capability gaps that can be applied during critical incidents occurring in urban environments.

B. OBJECTIVE:

S&T Urban OpEx will provide first responders with the opportunity to experiment with new and emerging technologies in realistic, urban settings. This event will occur in Fall 2016 and will combine demonstrations of leading-edge technologies with application-based field assessments throughout the New York City metropolitan area.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) S&T’s First Responders Group’s National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) will host S&T Urban OpEx with participation from a broad range of federal, state, local, academic and private sector partners. S&T Urban OpEx presents an important opportunity for DHS to gain a greater understanding of the operational needs and requirements of local first responders, while enabling first responder agencies to assess new technologies before committing to investment decisions.

Capability gaps and potential technologies will be reviewed with New York City first responder agencies to ensure the S&T Urban OpEx best addresses local responders’ needs, interests and priorities, and benefit the homeland security enterprise as a whole. Participating first responders will train on and experiment with technologies they have identified as possible solutions to meet priority capability gaps.

Participants will also be in the unique position to influence the development of new technologies and provide recommendations for future DHS S&T investments through their field technology assessments.

Industry, academia, and other Government organizations are invited to submit demonstration applications addressing innovative technologies leading to possible Government/Industry collaboration for further development of emerging first responder capabilities.

THE DEADLINES FOR APPLICATION PACKAGES is no later than 5:00 PM EDT on 16 August 2016.

Respondents are invited to submit technology demonstration applications related to the following capabilities as they apply to operation within urban environments, see Table 1.

Table 1: Desired capabilities for Urban OpEx

UNCLASSIFIED

After review of the demonstration applications, the Government may invite candidates to demonstrate their technologies during S&T Urban OpEx with the intent to accelerate the delivery of innovative capabilities to the first responder community. Industry participation in the demonstration activities does not suggest or imply that the Government will endorse, procure, or purchase equipment.

DO NOT SUBMIT CLASSIFIED INFORMATION in the demonstration application. If classified information is required to adequately describe a technology, submit an unclassified application with a request for a classified submission of supporting materials.

DO NOT SUBMIT ACQUISITION PROPOSALS. Submit Demonstration Applications and white papers only. Technology Demonstration Applications must be submitted no later than 5:00 PM EDT on 16 August 2016. No contracts will be awarded based solely on this announcement. Submission of a demonstration application does not guarantee an invitation to demonstrate.

C. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:

Submissions must be in the form of the application provided in Appendix 1. The application submitted under this RFI shall be limited to a maximum of 3 (three) pages.

All applications shall be submitted in the Microsoft-Word or portable document format (PDF) file format. See the Application in Appendix 1. All applications will be submitted via email to NUSTL@hq.dhs.gov and will include the following information:

Subject: S&T Urban OpEx 2016 Company Name/Business Division/Address Capability Name Primary POC info for the application: Name, email & phone number

You will receive an email verifying your application was received. Multiple applications addressing different capabilities may be submitted. Each application must address only one capability. The submission of proprietary information is strongly discouraged. All information received will be treated as public knowledge. Therefore, do not submit proprietary information in response to this RFI. Applications that desire to submit classified material must first submit an unclassified application and request instructions on that application for submission of classified materials in support of their application. The demonstration team will provide venues, supporting infrastructure, and personnel for assessment (operational and technical), based on availability of resources. Costs specific to running the technology developer’s technology, as well as the technology developer’s travel costs will be at the technology developer’s expense. Invited technology developers must be prepared to be self-sufficient during the execution of their demonstration and not dependent on venue resources. If you have questions regarding the submittal, please email NUSTL@hq.dhs.gov.

D. BASIS FOR SELECTION TO PARTICIPATE:

Submissions will be reviewed by NUSTL and appropriate supporting Government organizations, support contractors and first responders. NUSTL will determine whether a demonstration submission will be accepted for invitation.

Selection of respondents to participate shall be based on the extent to which the technology represents a particular class or level of capability that can be provided to interested first responders. Other limiting factors that may prevent an invitation include scheduling constraints and NUSTL’s inability to support the invitation of numerous technologies. Other considerations include:

· Relevance to at least one of the categories listed

Completeness in which the technology fills the need of the first responder

· Does not fill the need of the first responder

· Fills 25% of the need

· Fills 50% of the need

· Fills 75% of the need

· Fills 100% of the need

· Emerging nature of the technology to the first responder domain

· Technology is already being used by first responders

· Technology is a minor improvement on what is currently being used by first responders

· Technology is an improvement on what is currently being used by first responders

· Technology is a significant improvement on what is currently being used by first responders

· Technology has never before used by first responders

· Usability within an urban environment

Factors such as size, weight, user interface, controls/buttons and training required for use within an urban environment

· Technology is not useable within an urban environment

· Technology is useable but inconvenient within an urban environment

· Technology can be conveniently and easily used within an urban environment

· Ability to be evaluated/demoed at OpEx

· Technology cannot be easily evaluated or demoed at OpEx

· Technology can be demoed by vendor

· Technology can be tested, but not fully evaluated by first responders

· Technology can be fully evaluated under real world conditions by first responders

E. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Technology developers shall assure that all proprietary information, documentation, and equipment are appropriately and clearly marked. Be advised that lessons learned from these demonstrations may be broadly disseminated to the first responder community on a public facing website such as Firstresponder.gov. If selected for participation, technology developers may be requested to provide additional information that will be used in preparation for the demonstration.

F. SPECIAL NOTICE:

Federal employees, local first responders from the New York City region, and/or contractor consultant/advisors to the Government will review and provide support during evaluation of submittals. All advisors shall comply with procurement integrity laws and shall sign non-disclosure and rules of conduct/conflict of interest statements. The Government shall take into consideration requirements for avoiding conflicts of interest and ensure advisors comply with safeguarding proprietary data. Submission in response to this RFI constitutes approval to release the submittal to Government support contractors.

G. FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION (FAR) 52.215-3:

Per FAR 52.215-3 Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes (Oct 1997):

1. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI notice or to otherwise pay for the information.

2. Although "proposal" and "technology developer" are used in this RFI, your responses will be treated as information only. It shall not be used as a proposal.

3. In accordance with FAR Clause 52.209(c), the purpose of this RFI is to solicit technology demonstration candidates from R&D organizations, private industry, and academia for inclusion in future S&T Urban OpEx events by DHS S&T.

Appendix 1 Application to Demonstrate at Urban Operational Experimentation Company / Organization: Provide full name of company / organization POC: Provide name of person submitting application; office and mobile telephone numbers and email address(es).

Topic Area: List the capability which is most applicable to the technology (see Table 1 in RFI) Technology and/or Capability Name: Commonly referred to name

INSERT PICTURE OF PROPOSED SYSTEM HERE

Company / Organization:

Provide full name, address and other contact information for your organization. Include specific division if applicable. Please note if your company is designated as a “Small Business” and/or is “Foreign Owned”.

Objective: Briefly describe demonstration objectives and goals.

Technology Readiness Level:

Capability Description: Clearly describe the capability that you plan to demonstrate. Please identify if this technology is new, emerging, or legacy/existing and if you plan to demonstrate it as a transformational capability.

Baseline Demonstration Plan: Describe how you would like to demonstrate your capability. Include specific items such as location, environmental conditions, day / night, etc. This can be revised as the planning matures. Describe any support equipment, test equipment, spares, and associated items needed to support the handling, installation and operations of the capability and if there is a request for any support (crane, fork lift, etc.) Also include any hazardous material handling requirements such as fuel, oil, chemicals, etc.

Set-up Requirements: Briefly describe the details of the proposed capability set-up for the demonstration.

3. Major System Dimensions:

3. Estimated Total Weight:

3. Power Requirement:

3. Network Connections:

3. Data Requirement:

3. Special Handling: (crane, forklift, etc.)

3. Restrictions: (cable length, conditioned space, environmental constraints, etc.)

3. Anticipated Number of Personnel for Demonstration:

3. Hazardous Materials:

3. On-site Storage:

Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR): Identify what (if any) parts of your capability have EAR and/or ITAR restrictions.

Government Contracts (if applicable): Identify any government contracts and the supporting agencies that have or are expected to support the system and/or system components.

Additional Information: Additional information can be attached, but it is not guaranteed that it will be considered image1.png image2.png