BioWatch Program

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), FEMA, Office of Resilience, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Support Directorate, requires support to staff identified local field offices and execute the daily BioWatch Program field operations in accordance with the attached Statement of Work (SOW).

GENERAL INFORMATION: This RFI is issued solely for information gathering purposes to identify sources that can provide support for the BioWatch program field operations, special events and surge operations, and technology upgrades and integration. In accordance with FAR 15.101(c), 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.

INTRODUCTION:

DHS’s mission is to safeguard the American people, the homeland, and American values with honor and integrity. In support of this mission, the FEMA works to prevent CBRN attacks against the United States by providing timely, responsive support to operational partners.

The CBRN Support Directorate advances this mission through the BioWatch program, the nation’s only civilian program that monitors for aerosol releases of select bioterrorism agents. Since its establishment in 2003, BioWatch has maintained a bioterrorism air monitoring system that operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in large metropolitan areas, known as jurisdictions, and partnered with state and local public health communities to prepare for and respond to bioterrorist events.

The BioWatch Program’s strategic objectives are to:

• Monitor for the highest-priority biological agents that could cause catastrophic outcomes.
• Protect the nation’s most at-risk locations.
• Maintain technical oversight of operations in close collaboration with state and local public health partners that execute the program.
• Conduct advanced development and use federal research and development (R&D) to procure and deploy improved detection capabilities at lower cost.
• Coordinate federal, state, and local public health preparedness activities to develop operational protocols for initiating response activities following the detection of an agent for which the system tests.
• Strengthen federal, state, and local stakeholder partnerships and improve operational efficiencies.

To accomplish these objectives, each BioWatch jurisdiction maintains a static array of air samplers, the filters of which are collected daily by field operators. These filters are then delivered to a state or local operational laboratory where they are analyzed for select biological agents. Jurisdictions may also elect to surge operations by deploying additional units to monitor special events or increasing the collection cycle (e.g., twice a day collections).   In addition, each jurisdiction has an advisory committee that coordinates with the BioWatch program on operations and biological event preparedness activities. At the federal level, the BioWatch program includes field, surge, laboratory, and biodefense preparedness operational components. Figure 1 depicts daily sample operations.

Figure 1. BioWatch Sample Operational Process

PURPOSE OF RFI

Currently field operators and field-related tasks are not staffed by contract. The purpose of this RFI is to evaluate and determine the field staffing and support options for the BioWatch program to meet field operations requirements. The performer must enable the BioWatch program to maintain current field operations and continue to provide high quality, reliable, and timely delivery of field samples to the laboratories. In addition, due to its evolving operational needs, the performer must provide the necessary flexibility and adaptability to ensure BioWatch can address changes in sample collections for both planned events and unforeseen incidents, as well as assist with potential technology assessments, field evaluations, integration, and implementation.

DESIRED CAPABILITIES FOR BIOWATCH FIELD STAFFING AND SUPPORT CAPABILITY

Competent, proficient, and reliable field staffing is essential to ensure the BioWatch program continues to meet established requirements. In addition, the evolving threats and vulnerabilities that are identified at the state and local level require operational flexibility and adaptability that must be able to be supported with field staff capable of performing field operations and chain of custody in accordance with mission needs. A successful candidate staffing performer will provide field personnel to conduct BioWatch daily operations in select metropolitan cities within the United States. Composition and hierarchy of field staff at each location will be made at the discretion of the performer, with recommendations and concurrence from the BioWatch program.

The staffing performer shall:

• Provide a Program Manager for the contract who will serve as the primary point of contact for the BioWatch Program and DHS Contracting Officer.
• Provide a primary point of contact, or lead, for each jurisdiction who will provide direct oversight of field staff and be responsible for administrative activities such as:
  • Scheduling field staff and scoping collection routes.
  • Maintaining appropriate documentation (e.g., training documentation, required inventories, etc.)
  • Coordinating delivery times with local BioWatch laboratory.
  • Communicating and coordinating with the BioWatch Field Operations team.
  • Participating in relevant program meetings.
  • Upon request, participating in local advisory committee meetings.
  • Responding to requests for information from the BioWatch program.
  • Supporting program audits and other assessments. 
• Provide local office space to include space for equipment and consumable supplies storage.
• Implement staff recruitment and retention practices to maintain staffing levels over the life of the contract to:
  • Support routine daily operations 7 days a week, 365 days a year and may require working beyond a standard 8-hour day and/or alternate shifts.
  • Support planned and limited notice special events and surge operations (i.e., equipment deployment/demobilization, increased operations tempo, increased collection cycle, expanded array, etc.).
  • Support changes to the static array (i.e., additions/reductions in number of collection sites) or collection routes.
  • Ensure the staffing level in a given jurisdiction does not fall below 75% for longer than 1 month and that overall staffing levels do not fall below 90% per year.
  • Accommodate appropriate and reasonable time off for personnel (i.e., paid time off, etc.) without compromising operations including special events and surge operations.
• Provide continuity of operations, which may include:
  • Changes in operational tempo caused by limited notice special events.
  • Travel of field staff from one jurisdiction to another for either surge support or to ensure continued steady-state operations.
• Perform all required operational tasks in accordance with the Field Operations Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and other program guidance, processes, and protocols, including:
  • Logistics support.
  • Equipment and supplies ordering and inventory maintenance and reporting.
• Ensure all field staff, including new hires, are appropriately trained in all relevant BioWatch operations procedures, processes, and protocols.
  • Training materials are provided by the BioWatch program but the performer may be required to develop, maintain, and provide additional training to meet and support program objectives.
• Ensure field staff maintain and uphold the BioWatch Program Quality Assurance Program Plan (QAPP) requirements.
  • Oversight of Quality Assurance parameters is maintained by the program through audits and inspections, but compliance with program requirements by field staff will be the responsibility of the staffing performer.
• Upon request, participate in BioWatch program preparedness activities such as planning, drill/exercise participation, and post-detection coordination calls.
• Upon request, participate in BioWatch program technology assessments, field evaluations, upgrades and integration. 

All field staff must: be able to perform, at a minimum, routine operations including:

• Comply with all BioWatch field operations procedures, processes, and protocols.
• Comply with field operations information management requirements (e.g., sample chain of custody, operations reporting, etc.).
• Perform routine operations including:
  • BioWatch collector siting, calibration, and maintenance.
  • Filter holder assembly (FHA) cleaning and assembly.
  • FHA collection and installation.
  • Post-collection FHA storage and transfer.
  • Sample delivery to the laboratory.

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.

NAICS CODE: 541620 (Environmental Consulting Services), 541330 (Engineering Services)

PRODUCT SERVICE CODE (PSC): R408 (Support-Professional/Program Management/Support), R410 (Support-Professional: Program Evaluation/Review/Development), R425 (Support-Professional: Engineering/Technical), R499 (Support – professional: other); and F999 (Other Environmental Services)

ANTICIPATED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: February 1, 2027

ATTACHMENT: Draft requirement document BioWatch Field Operations Statement of Work

RFI RESPONSE SUBMITTAL INSTRUCTIONS:

Interested contractors shall submit their RFI responses electronically to Isaac Chapple, Contracting Officer, at contact@example.gov, no later than 12:00PM Eastern Time (ET), December 4, 2026. Questions regarding this RFI are due no later than 12:00PM ET, November 20, 2026.

“RFI Response for BioWatch Program Field Operations” 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 8 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: 

1. Cover Page with the following information:

1. Company Name 
2. Company Address 
3. UEI Number 
4. Applicable NAICS code(s)
5. Applicable PSC code(s)
6. Company Point of Contact - Name, Title, Phone, and Email address  
7. Statement of current business size status (i.e., HUBZone small business concern, service-disabled veteran-owned small business firm, 8(a) contractor, woman-owned small business, small business, or large business concern). Also, business size in relation to the NAICS code size standards assigned to this acquisition.
8. GSA Schedule Number including, but not limited to NAICS codes 541620 and/or not limited to the Product Service Code R425 (Support-Professional: Engineering/Technical) Contract Number, and Period of Performance and/or DHS Strategic Sourcing Vehicle Category Name and Contract Number, if applicable

1. Contractor Capability Statement (No more than 6 pages in length): Competent, proficient, and reliable field staffing is essential to ensuring the BioWatch Program continues to install, collect, transport, and deliver samples to the laboratories for processing and analysis. In addition, the evolving threats and vulnerabilities that are identified at the State and Local level require operational flexibility and adaptability that must be able to be supported with field staff capable of performing field operations activities including placement of equipment; install, collect and deliver of samples; maintain equipment in accordance with mission needs.

1. Describe your experience within the last five years in executing requirements of similar size, scope, and complexity, specifically referencing your experience and lessons learned with geographically dispersed, 24/7/365 field operations for federal, state, or local government agencies regarding – including but not limited to: 1) Experience staffing comprehensive field operations; 2) Experience providing field staff to meet a surge capability with short-term operational requirements; and 3) Experience staff travel and meeting Federal Travel Regulations (FTR).
2. Summarize your approach to ensuring staff are meeting requirements: following program SOPs; trained in accordance with requirements; compliant with chain of custody requirements; traceability with using external data systems; transportation (e.g., vehicle, gas, collectors, transport, parking); site maintenance/collector site use and utilities; emergency response coordination and drill activities;
3. Ability to meet staffing requirements across all jurisdictions in the United States; approach to providing office or warehouse space to address field activities described above.
4. The timeframe your company would assume control of this requirement and be capable of performing the tasks outlined in the SOW.
5. A description of the proposed solution, addressing the following: a) Fundamental management principles used; b) Demonstrated staffing experience: utilization in operational environments, relevant performance information (turn-over rates, staff qualifications, training program, etc.), and length of experience providing staffing; c) Adaptability; ability and ease of customization of staffing options to address the specific, and potentially evolving, needs of the Program; d) Any applicable IT or software support that is specific to the performer that would need to be implemented in current BioWatch program locations; e) Any demonstrable operational benefits that could be provided to the BioWatch program by the performer; and f) Any other information the respondent believes to be important and germane to the purposes of this RFI.

1. Contractor RFI responses to questions (No more than 2 total 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. Provide at least one example of past or current contracts where you provided field support services across multiple states or jurisdictions. For each, describe the scope, number of personnel managed, and the geographical area covered.
2. Describe your experience managing a "Train the Trainer" program, where your personnel are responsible for the ongoing training and certification of the field workforce based on initial government-provided instruction.
3. Detail your approach for accountability and traceability with managing government-furnished property (GFP) and implementing a robust inventory management system for consumables and spare parts across numerous locations.
4. Describe your proposed methodology for ensuring the field staffing 365 days a year, including holidays, weekends, and periods of inclement weather across diverse urban environments.
5. The SOW requires the ability to surge to twice-daily collections and support special events with as little as 24 hours' notice. How would you structure your staffing and logistics plan to meet these critical flexibility requirements without degrading routine operations?
6. Are there other NAICS or PCS codes that should be considered?
7. Please provide any other feedback you have on the SOW that could help FEMA refine the requirements for a future solicitation.