RFI---Emergency Fire Response Software Tools

Request for Information EMERGENCY FIRE RESPONSE SOFTWARE TOOLS USED TO DEVELOP FIRE ATTACK PLANNING INFORMATION FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS DUE: 24 FEBRUARY 2006. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center (SPAWARSYSCEN) Charleston is seeking information on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) Emergency Fire Response (EFR) software tools that aid fire attack preplanning or enroute response. Software tools that enhance firefighting response capabilities, such as map book development, location queries, fire flow, chemical response, and floor plan viewing are of specific interest. SPAWARSYSCEN Charleston is only interested in information on software tools that are currently available to civilian authorities, or easily adaptable to fire departments and other emergency responder environments. No products that are undergoing research and development or beta testing will be accepted. Various local, state, and federal government and firefighting agencies, incident commanders, and area disaster/emergency response personnel will potentially use these software tools. Review of this information is being performed for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Preparedness Directorate, Office of Grants and Training (G&T). G&T is responsible for enhancing the capacity of state and local jurisdictions to respond to, and mitigate the consequences of, incidents of domestic terrorism, particularly those involving Weapons of Mass Destruction, through coordinated training, equipment acquisition, technical assistance, and support for federal, state, and local exercises. G&T established the System Assessment and Validation for Emergency Responders (SAVER) Program to assist emergency responders in performing their duties. The SAVER Program established and is supported by a network of partners and associates who perform the actual assessment and validation activities. Visit the SAVER Program Web site at http://saver.tamu.edu for more information on the SAVER Program. All information received will be treated as public knowledge; therefore, vendors should not submit proprietary information in response to this Request for Information (RFI). By providing this information, the vendor agrees that it may be used in the production of the EFR Software Tools Market Survey Report or Software Tools Guide and subsequently published. Specific information sought includes: (1) A brief (one page) description of the software tool in reference to the firefighting, emergency response, and disaster operations communities (using the sample product description format in the attached product summary template document); (2) Identification of the product’s capabilities relative to firefighting operations; (3) The purchase price and expected life cycle operation, training, and maintenance costs; (4) A listing of current users (with points of contact) to include those organizations that have placed orders or have implemented the software product; (5) Product support options, installation and support specifications, and operation requirements; (6) A listing of data formats, standards, and digital guides which are supported or compliant with the software tool; and (7) The name, phone number, fax number, and e-mail address of the individual that potential users should contact for more information on the software tool. The submitted information shall be evaluated for inclusion in published products, such as a software tools guide, developed for the SAVER Program. The software tools guide will provide insight into the capabilities and limitations of the various software tools to enable users to select those software products which best meet their needs. This user ready reference guide will be an unclassified document disseminated to federal, state, local, and tribal government agencies. Determination as to an individual product’s suitability will be made by SPAWARSYSCEN Charleston based on the objectives of this request. Vendor provided product information may be reformatted prior to final publication. Submittals: Respondents are required to complete the attached product summary template document available on SPAWARS ecommerce website (EFR_product_summary.doc) for each product and submit electronically via CD, diskette, Internet link, or e-mail. You must use the link at the bottom of this notice to get to this document. Responses to this RFI should be e-mailed to Mark Jansen (e-mail: contact@example.gov, phone: +1 (555) 000-0000) or mailed to: SPAWARSYSCEN Charleston, Attn: Code 771MJ, P.O. Box 190022, N. Charleston, SC, 29419-9022. Please provide three copies of any printed material. E-mail your non-technical questions to the Contract Specialist at contact@example.gov, phone +1 (555) 000-0000. THIS RFI IS FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY, AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) OR SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER. THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT INTEND TO AWARD A CONTRACT ON THE BASIS OF THIS RFI OR OTHERWISE PAY FOR THE INFORMATION SOLICITED.