The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA), National Continuity Programs (NCP), the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) Division Program Management Office (PMO) has a continuing requirement for technical support and operations and maintenance of the IPAWS Lab.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) Program was established to meet the requirements set forth in Public Law 114-143 and Executive Order 13407, and Public Law 93-288 The Stafford Act Section 202. Disaster Warnings, which require FEMA to develop, implement, maintain, and administer “an effective, reliable, integrated, flexible, and comprehensive system to alert and warn the American people in situations of war, terrorist attack, natural disaster, or other hazards to public safety and well-being.” The program operates, maintains, and enhances the IPAWS-OPEN and NPWS information systems in order to provide alerting authorities at all levels of government, including the President of the United States, the ability to provide timely and effective emergency alerts, warnings, and emergency information to the public.

The IPAWS-OPEN system receives, processes, and transmits Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) messages from alert originator applications and systems and performs authentication, message format transformations, and routing, posting, and interfaces to multiple alert dissemination networks and technologies that deliver the alert and warning messages to the public. The two key alert and warning system interfaces include all radio and television providers that participate in the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and wireless/cellular network providers that participate in Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA).

The FEMA IPAWS PMO operates laboratory spaces at the Naval Support Activities South Potomac base in Indian Head, MD. The lab space consists of two structures which contain the IPAWS/NPWS lab spaces, technical areas with workbenches, offices, conference room, break room and restroom facilities. The majority of the required effort will take place at the IPAWS Lab located within these structures.

The IPAWS-OPEN is a vital alert and warning component maintained and operated by the IPAWS Program. The IPAWS Program maintains an operational IPAWS Laboratory where duplicates or approximations of the IPAWS-OPEN and other alert and warning systems are installed and used to conduct demonstrations, exercises, testing and evaluation of interconnecting and interfacing alert and warning applications, systems, devices, and technologies, to assist authorities that send alerts and warnings with education, training, tests and exercises of alerts and warnings, and to assist vendors of compatible alert/warning applications with independent validation and verification (IV&V) of compatibility with IPAWS. The IPAWS Lab is used to host and support training for alerting authorities both in person and virtually, support of mass notification application system vendor testing for exercises with IPAWS stakeholders, and for testing purposes. The IPAWS Lab is available to federal, tribal, territorial, state, and local alerting authorities to test and train on the use of IPAWS-OPEN.

IPAWS-OPEN is routinely tested by the IPAWS Program in order to ensure system capabilities and readiness.

• The IPAWS Division within the FEMA Office of National Continuity Programs (ONCP) requires contractor support for the following task areas:
  • NPWS PEP Station Sustainment
    • NPWS Technical Services Center (TSC)
  • NPWS PEP Station Modernization
    • NPWS Modernization Management
    • NPWS PEP Station Pre-Construction
    • NPWS PEP Station Construction
  •  NPWS PEP Station Shelter Fabrication
  • NPWS PEP Station Decommission and Recommission
• Supporting the NPWS activities above requires significant subject matter expertise and experience in preconstruction and construction planning, execution, and management specific to a broadcast-based program
• This Scope of Work pertains strictly to a broadcast-based program and is not an IT system development initiative
• The contractor will be responsible for managing and overseeing construction and must have a proven track record of delivering multiple simultaneous projects on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards
• It is imperative that the contractor demonstrates exceptional expertise in coordinating teams, engaging stakeholders, and adhering to all safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements
• The contractor shall provide construction management personnel with proven track records of managing diverse teams, coordinating with stakeholders, and mitigating risks, and they must bring exceptional organizational, leadership, and results-driven professional skills to every project
• The contractor must be adept at handling complex challenges and consistently deliver successful outcomes in fast-paced and demanding environments
• The contractor shall provide NPWS services and support across CONUS, OCONUS, and U.S. Territories
• Work shall be performed concurrently at multiple locations throughout the duration of the contract
• The contractor will deliver services to the IPAWS Division to sustain NPWS PEP capabilities, including maintaining and repairing NPWS PEP station equipment and operations when damaged or inoperable
• Additionally, the contractor will modernize existing NPWS PEP station facilities and equipment while supporting environmental and historic preservation efforts related to modernization, construction, decommissioning, and sustainment activities.
• The contractor shall manage and coordinate tasks involving maintenance, modification, upgrades, purchase, and replacement of facilities and equipment
• This includes overseeing site sustainment support activities related to the NPWS TSC
• The contractor will also modernize and manage an existing point-of-contact, inventory, and trouble ticket/escalation database
• Responsibilities include managing fuel replenishment (FEMA owns over 650,000 gallons of fuel) and shelter rations; conducting emergency equipment repairs; monitoring fuel systems; and handling related permits, registration documents, and fees
• Furthermore, the contractor shall conduct HEMP shielding effectiveness testing and maintenance, support operational exercises and testing, and provide operator and maintenance training as needed
• At the Government’s discretion, the contractor may support NPWS PEP activation suite systems software development projects to integrate, support, and maintain ongoing sustainment activities
• The contractor shall also promote private sector radio station participation in NPWS by facilitating discussions and meetings between station owners, participants, and FEMA