This is a SOURCES SOUGHT REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI). This is not a request for proposals and does not obligate the Government to award a contract. The Department of Homeland Security (DSH), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) is conducting an end-user functionality and efficacy assessment of cooling garments and vests to validate their employment and effectiveness when used by emergency responders in weapons of mass destruction (WMD) or hazardous materials (HAZMAT) environments. The CDP is inviting manufacturers to provide information on cooling garments and vests. The DHS Authorized Equipment (AEL) item number for this equipment is 01ZA-06-COOL. The requested information will be included in the cooling garments and bests market research, will provide available product information, and will provide support information for the CDP cooling garments and vests assessment. By providing information in response to this RFI you agree that the System Assessment and Validation for Emergency Responder (SAVER) Program may use both the equipment information and any provided images in SAVER outreach. The intent of the user assessment program will be to provide the emergency response community with feedback on equipment based on utilization in scenarios that replicate, to the maximum extent possible, conditions that will be experienced in incident response. The results of the assessment will not yield a determination of what product is best, nor shall the CDP endorse any product or manufacturer. The assessment will be performed at the CDP by evaluators from the emergency response population, representative of all disciplines of agencies and jurisdictions across the US. These evaluators will be actual users of the equipment in the field. The assessment will include specific scenarios which require the evaluators to use the equipment to complete tasks while wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). The scenarios will be tailored so that evaluated criteria can be objectively and subjectively assessed by each evaluator. The criteria include capability, usability, affordability, deployability, and maintainability. If you wish to provide information about your particular brand/product, please provide, in electronic (MS Word) format, your company name, whether you are a manufacturer or a distributor, address, point of contact, telephone number, fax number, web address, and e-mail address. Additionally, please provide any information available such as adaptability of the equipment in hazardous environments while wearing PPE, reliability, maintainability, durability, environmental limits, safety reports, latest research, and new developments. Finally, please include cost information such as initial costs, replacement parts, accessory options, and available warranties. Do not send you equipment. Selected equipment will be purchased from distributors/suppliers as the equipment is selected for the assessment. Respond by 4:00 p.m. CDT on June 23, 2008, by e-mail to
[email protected] .