DHS offers funding for research, development of first responder technology

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) announced this week that funding opportunities are available for research and development into 10 new first responder technology areas.

To that end, the agency is seeking documents from industry, academia, laboratories, and the innovation community to aid in fulfilling the needs.

“Today’s ever-changing world requires us to stay vigilant when it comes to ensuring our nation’s first responders are equipped with the technologies needed to address the challenges they face,” Greg Price, director of S&T’s First Responder Portfolio, said. “S&T works directly with fire, law enforcement, and emergency medical service first responders across the country to identify their technology needs. Through rapid research and development, we ensure they have the tools needed to keep them safe so they can do their jobs efficiently and effectively.”

Price said S&T is presently seeking the best ideas from industry and academia to help turn first responders’ R&D needs into reality.

Research and Development areas, per DHS S&T, include the solicitation of partners to take current law enforcement duty uniforms to the next level by updating and modernizing them with enhanced base layer protection against abrasion, slashing and punctures, burn injuries, and absorption of liquids; partners capable of designing a multi-purpose and customizable helmet providing lightweight bolstered protection against concussive and ballistic threats that can be worn for long periods at potentially chaotic incident scenes; and partners to develop more effective solutions supporting crowd dispersal while providing increased mitigation and arrest capabilities for response to criminal activity in crowd situations.

The Broad Agency Announcement solicitation will remain open until July 2, 2021.