SOO - B - Low Profile Riot Protection Gear - 060220201.pdf

Low Profile Riot Protection Gear

June 2021 Science and Technology Directorate Department of Homeland Security

DISTRIBUTION NOTICE: Further dissemination only as directed by DHS Office of Policy DESTRUCTION NOTICE: Destroy by any method that will prevent disclosure of contents or reconstruction of the document.

1.0 Problem Statement

First responders require personal protective equipment (PPE), or protective gear, when responding to the range of violent threats that can occur during demonstrations, riots or civil unrest. The PPE should be comfortable and provide adequate protection to address current safety concerns, while maintaining a police appearance profile to diminish issues surrounding concerns of the police being overly militaristic.

2.0 Purpose and Scope

The personal protective equipment (PPE) or riot protection gear that first responders currently have is insufficient for the evolving threat environment. First responders require new PPE that can be worn while they are working crowd control situations, demonstrations, and crowd management.

This includes proposed solutions for any clothing, accessories, or devices that first responders may wear or carry to protect themselves in the field. When considering PPE, it is essential that protective gear is not too bulky or cumbersome to impact first responders’ ability to perform their duties. PPE also should not appear overly militaristic. Rather, various levels of certified protection are required to provide first responders with scalable and escalating layers of protection based on threat.

3.0 Background Environment

During the widespread civil unrest that occurred throughout the nation in 2020, it became evident that some violent protestors are becoming increasingly sophisticated, using military, law enforcement, and violent tactics against first responder personnel. Some protesters weaponized themselves with the ability to cause serious or even fatal injuries to other participants and to first responders. The riot protection gear, or PPE, that first responders currently have was found to be insufficient for the wide-ranging threats and obstacles they confronted. This SOO is intended to address the need for new and enhanced personal protection equipment and gear that will enable first responders to perform their required missions without sacrificing their safety.

3.1 Mission Scenarios

Civil unrest occurred in small towns and large cities across the United States in 2020, requiring the nation’s first responders to manage protests and demonstrations that often became violent. As mentioned above, some protesters have become increasingly sophisticated and have been weaponizing themselves to cause harm to first responders and to other participants. In addition to the range of projectiles used by violent protesters, first responders have noted that some participants have been carrying and using firearms, which is of significant concern.

The threats and obstacles that first responders have faced during the recent riots and unrest have included, but are not limited to:

• Projectiles, to include rocks, canned food, frozen water bottles, sling shots with various objects-rocks/metal/marbles, construction materials, pool balls, flag poles, and bike chains.

• Flammables, such as Molotov cocktails, burning cars, dumpsters, smoke bombs, propane tanks, and flares.

• Explosive devices, to include commercial grade explosives and high-end fireworks, including some with shrapnel.

• Firearms/shots fired

• Audio obstacles intended to disturb responder communications, such as whistles, air horns, PA systems and speakers with volume turned up, sirens, and yelling.

• Chemicals and accelerants, to include acetone, household cleaners, mace, bug spray, and spray foam.

• Fluids, such as paint, blood, urine, spit, horse glue with glitter, and vinegar.

• Lasers, including high-powered blue and green lasers.

• Visual obstacles, such as strobe lights, flashlights, and paint thrown at officer’s faces and their face shields.

• Vehicles, used to drive into the crowds of demonstrators and into first responders

• Other items used to cause harm, including claw hammers, re-bar, tire irons, machetes, baseball bats, frozen hockey pucks, sticks, bike racks, and skateboards.

3.2 Current Technology Shortfalls and Threats

First responders do not currently have protective equipment that account for the full range of threats they’ve faced during recent riots. Responders lack multi-functional gear that provides impact protection, fire retardance, can repel liquids, and addresses the firearms threat. Existing protective equipment is described as bulky and cumbersome, impacting the responders’ ability to maintain dexterity, agility, flexibility, and mobility. Current PPE is piecemeal and doesn’t have the capacity or ability to be scalable or customizable. First responders would benefit from PPE components that are low profile, a scalable system where components work together, are adaptable, and can be added depending on the threat.

4.0 Potential Solution Attributes

First responders require new PPE that can be worn while they are working crowd control situations, demonstrations, and protest management. This PPE includes any clothing or accessories that first responders may wear or carry to protect them in the field, such as: uniforms, footwear, gloves, shin guards, padding, ear protection, eyewear, or helmets. Furthermore, first responder personnel would also benefit from additional protective items or devices that could be worn or carried during protest management, for example: shields, audible warning devices, fire protection/fire extinguishers, or decontamination or neutralization supplies.

When considering PPE or riot gear, various levels of certified protection are necessary to provide first responders with scalable and escalating layers of protection based on the threat.

4.1 Concept of Operations (ConOps)

The solution will provide first responders protective equipment to wear and/or carry when working demonstration or riot situations. The solution will provide limb to torso protection (including forearms, elbows, thighs, knees, and shins) and will be customizable to protect against a wide range of threats. For example, the solution may involve a base layer of PPE (e.g., “Level III”) that is scalable by adding protective pieces based on the responder’s role or the assessed threat. At the highest level of defense (e.g., “Level I”), the solution should provide impact, ballistic, chemical, and fire protection. The solution must not only consider the defensibility the equipment provided but will also allow for responder flexibility and mobility and address the ease with which it can be removed in the event an officer is injured and needs medical attention.

Regarding aesthetics, the solution will be low profile and will not appear overly aggressive or militaristic. However, any measures taken to “soften” appearance cannot reduce its protective capabilities. Finally, because the protective equipment will often be worn or carried for extended periods of time, the solution will be comfortable, lightweight and reduce heat generation to extend working time of the first responder in the field.

4.2 Additional Capabilities

Successful development of this requirement will enable first responders to be prepared and protected to safeguard their communities. Having enough protective equipment allows first responders to appropriately and proportionately deal with criminal violence that may occur during civil unrest, while allowing those not engaged in criminal activity to continue to practice their first amendment rights.

5.0 Solution Capabilities and Requirements

The FRRG members identified must-have requirements as well as desirable capabilities or characteristics of a proposed solution, which are outlined below.

5.1 Must Have Requirements (Key Performance Parameters, KPP’s)

First and foremost, the solution must meet all relevant standards for personal protective equipment.

Pending the adoption of a NIJ Standard we will adopt the British Standard 7971; U.K. Home Office HOSDB Blunt Trauma Protector Standard for UK Police (2007); PSDB Protective Headwear Standard for UK Police (2004); and HOSDB Flame Retardant Overalls Standard for UK Police (2008).

The solution must provide multiple levels of certified protection that are customizable and scalable, with escalating layers of protection for response at all types of events. All the component PPE parts must be compatible with each other, regardless of where or who they are designed or manufactured by.

The FRRG identified requirements for a lower level “base ensemble,” referred to as Level III, as well as requirements for the highest level of protection, referred to as Level I. The primary distinction between these two levels would be based on the anticipated or realized threat assessment by the agency having jurisdiction. The agency will determine the appropriate level of protection for their responder.

The must-have requirements for the Level III base ensemble include:

• Protects against projectiles or hand thrown items

• Has fire retardant capability built into all layers

• Ability to incorporates protection against lasers

• Is resistant to being slashed, cut, and punctured

• Provides fluid runoff

• Is low profile, with padding that is discreet

The must-have requirements for Level I PPE include:

• Provides fire protection/resistance, is self-extinguishing and sheds burning fluid (all layers)

• Provides chemical protection

• Provides fluid runoff

• Ensures head and face protection, such as a multi-threat helmet for impact, fire, and chemical (e.g., Argus helmet)

• Provides eye protection

• Incorporates protection against lasers

• Is resistant to being slashed, cut, and punctured

In addition to the protective requirements identified for Level I and Level III, the FRRG identified must-have characteristics for the aesthetic, fit, and maintenance of the PPE, including:

• Does not impact officer’s ability to do his/her job, to include being able to get to his/her weapon

• Is discreet in appearance, yet ensures that first responders look like first responders

• Provides reflective identification markers for nighttime operations and uncontrolled environments to ensure high visibility

• Provides the option to add unique individual identifiers to allow for identification of specific responders

• Fit accommodates both male and female officers

• Fit accommodates different shapes and sizes

• Is comfortable and does not impede first responder’s ability to wear for extended periods of time

• Is breathable and does not unduly raise body temperature enabling it to be worn in various climates

• Is washable and can withstand 150 washes

• Can pass decontamination processes to a level of cleanliness that meets NFPA 1851 standards for decontamination.

5.2 Desirable Capabilities or Characteristics

The FRRG identified additional performance and/or system standards that exceed the proposed solution requirements reported in subsection 5.1. The desirable capabilities or characteristics for the PPE that is worn by responders include the following:

• Integrates communications, to include small group frequencies and line of sight frequency

• Includes bump helmets that are scalable to provide ballistic protection

• Provides impact protection in addition to the standard agency required ballistic vest

• Incorporates padding into the base uniform or can be worn under the uniform; if the padding is integrated into uniform or is unmovable, the fit and padding location should be able to accommodate ninety percent of responders

• Is compatible with other PPE uniforms or components that are being developed under other FRRG SOOs, such as ongoing efforts to address fire retardant capability

• Considers fire retardant sprays that can be applied to existing uniforms

• Provides high visibility, to include being available in a variety of colors other than black

(e.g., navy blue, grey)

In addition, the FRRG identified desirable capabilities and characteristics for PPE other equipment that first responders may carry for protection, namely shields, or communication. The desirable characteristics identified for shields include:

• Flame resistant and self-extinguishing

• Provides impact resistance that meets NIJ and other applicable standards

• Protects against lasers

• Clear material or see-through

• Provides lighting or reflective add-ons

• Devices are available in varying sizes based on role of first responders (e.g., small, large, single or two-person device)

• Lightweight and able to be carried one or two-handed

• Adjustable handholds that allow for varying holding positions

• Audible or visual devices that can enhance, clarify and share verbal information to event participants

• Open call for other pieces of equipment that can support the mission of first responders to support the lawful assembly of demonstrators while protecting others, property and responders from violent acts. These items should consider the position posted in this document to assist them in determining the viability of a quality piece of equipment that protects and is reasonable and proportionate to what the responders face. Equipment proposed under this area would need a description of the equipment and the methodology of use by responders.

6.0 System Support

6.1 Contractual Requirements

6.1.1 Period and Place of Performance

The length of time of the contract shall be between 12-18 months and shall not exceed the latter. All developmental activities will be performed at the contractor-designated site(s). DHS may require the contractor to perform critical design reviews and/or product presentations at DHS-specified locations.

6.1.2 System Affordability

First responders’ budgets are limited and should be taken into consideration when developing and determining a price per unit cost model.

6.1.3 Regulatory/Legal Requirements

Pending the development of NIJ standards we will adopt the British Standard 7971, Protective clothing and equipment for use in violent situations and in training, or standards developed by the U.K. Home Office [i.e., HOSDB Blunt Trauma Protector Standard for UK Police (2007), PSDB Protective Headwear Standard for UK Police (2004), and HOSDB Flame Retardant Overalls Standard for UK Police (2008)] as performance standards for this effort.

6.1.4 Contract Deliverables

DHS is committed to ensuring the success of their technology by requiring the project performer to provide DHS multiple prototype deliverables which will be used for post-contract testing and evaluation. A minimum of 5 prototype devices for evaluation by emergency responders shall be provided as a final project deliverable.

6.2 Solution Support

6.2.1 Support Concept

6.2.2 Training

Depending on the PPE solution(s), some training may be required for first responders prior to deployment of the solution, for example, shield protection training (for use rather than tactics).

Training information as required shall be provided on any specialized equipment, and shall include how to properly store, clean, deploy, and maintain the basic ensemble/unit. Any specialty requirements of personnel conducting maintenance, storage, extraction, or delivery will be identified including certification requirements. Training material shall be available initially in hard-copy, and subsequently in soft-copy format.

6.2.3 Other Considerations

Human Interface Requirements: The target user is law enforcement, but solutions may also be applicable to EMS. The solution should be able to integrate with other equipment/PPE currently used by these emergency responders. It should also be able to operate in all types of environments and in temperature extremes.

Logistics and Readiness: The solution developed under this award is envisioned as either a new piece of equipment or an improved version of current offerings. It should also be cost effective so that emergency responders from a wide variety of jurisdictions will be able to afford it.

6.2.4 Storage and Maintenance

The contractor shall identify all necessary storage and maintenance requirements for the proposed solution including: the required maintenance schedule, identification of the specific components of the ensemble that requires the maintenance, the type of maintenance required, and whether the maintenance can be performed in the field by operational personnel or if it will be required to be returned to the manufacturer for the required maintenance.

Physical solutions including PPE, shall include all special laundering instructions, including recommendations for frequency of laundering, should also be provided if required. Laundering recommendations should be viable and cost effective for First Responders and First Responder agencies and should ideally be able to be performed “in house.”