The P-TAC program includes operation of a Simulated Emergency Operations Center (SEOC), complete with supporting technologies, and a fully accredited laboratory for technology evaluations.

Request for Information (RFI) to support the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Preparedness-Technology, Analysis, and Coordination (P-TAC) Center, formerly the NIMS Support Center. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. ALL QUESTIONS MUST BE IN WRITING AND EITHER MAILED, FAXED OR EMAILED TO THE POINT OF CONTACT LISTED BELOW. Objective: The objective of this RFI is to solicit information and ideas regarding the optimal approaches for continued support of the P-TAC center The responses to this RFI will be used for informational purposes only. This is not a solicitation. This notice does not constitute a Request for Proposal, nor does it restrict the Government as to the ultimate acquisition approach, nor should it be construed as a commitment by the Government. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Integration Center (NIC) is neither seeking nor accepting unsolicited proposals. DHS will not pay for information solicited. Since this is a sources-sought announcement, no evaluation letters and/or results will be issued to the respondents. However, DHS may issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) as a result of responses to this RFI. The Preparedness-Technology, Analysis, and Coordination (P-TAC) Center, formerly the NIMS Support Center, provides the response community with a suite of products and services to offer a comprehensive, nationwide, systematic approach to incident management. The P-TAC mission space is to be an enabler of preparedness and technology activities across the FEMA enterprise. P-TAC serves NPD to conduct quick reaction studies, analysis, test and evaluation, and other critical functions to identify, assess and close preparedness/technology gaps in the response community. P-TAC also provides a training and exercise environment both on-site and at locations remote from its facility. P-TAC is intimately involved with the Whole Community (WC) project within FEMA that is re-shaping the nation's approach to both preparedness and response. P-TAC is integrally involved in this topic and provides unique capability to bring technology related issues to the forefront and identify quick solutions. P-TAC Center Infrastructure and Certifications - The Infrastructure must contain a fully functional EOC. The current P-TAC Center network has completed the necessary DHS C&A requirements. The Center must have an Incident Management Test and Evaluation Laboratory (IMTEL). The current IMTEL is a physical and logical laboratory. The IMTEL testing requirements under P-TAC in support of STEP (Conformance Testing project for evaluation of hardware and software incident command related technology) dictate that a testing laboratory with ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation be used. A Technical staff to support evaluations to verify that systems conform to interoperability standards and can exchange critical messages during disasters is required. The accreditation must be valid for evaluations of technologies involving CAP and EDXL standards - certification for both calibration and testing, to include the OASIS EDXL standards. Core capabilities of the staff should include: Extensive background with development, Standards and Supportive Technologies, Technical Assistance, and Incident Management Systems tasks and deliverables. Extensive reach-back capability to ensure performance throughout the entire life cycle of the program. Established partnerships at the local, state, and federal levels through direct communications and interface, with an emphasis on supporting the P-TAC mission Experience on major exercises (Ex. TOPOFF, HHS, Treasury, National Guard, FEMA, DHS, etc.) Experience in live events (Ex. Katrina, All-Hazard events, etc.) Cross discipline (Ex. Fire, EMS, HAZMAT, EM, Public Health, LE, USAR, etc.) Extensive background with ISO, CMMI, and general systems engineering Please provide a capabilities statement, not to exceed two pages, and proof of the necessary certifications to Erin Cotter via email @ Erin.Cotter@dhs.gov.