The Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has extended the deadline for submitting first-responder technologies for assessment in the Next Generation First Responder – Birmingham Shaken Fury Operational Experimentation (OpEx).
The original deadline was today. The new deadline is March 8.
The purpose of OpEx is to find technologies that make first responders better protected, connected and fully aware. It is open to applicants in government, academia and the private sector, and the focus should be on the nine key capability gaps.
The capability gaps include on-body or handheld sensors, sensor deployment tools and systems, responder location tracking systems, wireless patient physiological monitoring and location tracking systems, resource tracking and management systems, and emergency vehicle traffic signal preemption systems.
Birmingham, Ala., will be hosting the World Games 2021, and the goal is test technologies that enhance the mission-response capabilities of first responders prior to the city hosting the events.
OpEx is one of four major activities S&T is sponsoring that is aligned to the Federal Emergency Management Agency Shaken Fury 2019 exercise in June. The exercise will simulate the response and recovery to an earthquake near Memphis.
OpEx will be held the week of Aug. 18.