Based on its latest request for information (RFI), the United States Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) sees potential for virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) in training law enforcement and emergency response agencies.
Seeking details on what’s already out there commercially, NUSTL asked for training systems that were complete, pre-packaged, validated, and scenario-based for first responders, customized by companies with proven experience in producing such systems for first responders, capable of providing multiple and immersive scenarios, able to integrate with first responder agency learning management systems or that offer “see what I see” functionality for both assessment and review of training scenarios.
Potential vendors, manufacturers, or distributors of these sorts of systems were all encouraged to submit, with the knowledge that this information would go on to the DHS Science and Technology Directorate’s System Assessment and Validation for Emergency Responders (SAVER) program to help response organizations with equipment selection and procurement. As such, any information provided could potentially be shared nationally with federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial response agencies.
None of this represents the potential for a request for proposals or the potential of an offer, just a search for information on the government’s part. Any acquired information would be published in SAVER program documentation without pay.