The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency, Management Agency, Office of Response and Recovery, Response Directorate, Incident Support Section has a requirement for various types of UAS aircraft.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) mission is to help people before, during and after disasters. To execute this mission, FEMA executes programs and activities that supports the reduction of loss of life and property and protects the Nation from all hazards, including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other manmade disasters, by leading and supporting the Nation in a risk based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation. The Response Directorate within FEMA coordinates and provides the core Federal disaster response capability needed to save lives, reduce suffering, and protect property in communities throughout the Nation that have been overwhelmed by the impact of a major disaster or emergency, regardless of cause. The Response Directorate must ensure that Federal emergency response systems and capabilities are properly poised to lean forward to support States and communities overwhelmed by disasters and emergencies.

To support declared or undeclared emergencies, disaster response operations and other national events and incidents, within the United States, its territories and possessions, FEMA may need to provide search and rescue that utilizes mapping, confined space accessibility, transport cargo, maneuver steep hills, video recording and picture capabilities, collect data and equipment to and from affected areas with an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS). To meet this need, FEMA requires a contracted source of air transportation for various types of UAS aircraft, corresponding but not limited to types described in this Statement of Objective (SOO).

A contract of this type will enable FEMA to proactively support the emergency response needs associated with natural, technological, man-made disasters and other national events and incidents in a timely and efficient manner. The Air Operations Program Office (AOPO) will oversee, organize, and/or unify all FEMA aviation related efforts and seek to employ innovative capabilities and technologies to reduce disaster risk, stabilize community lifelines during response, and provide unfailing support to survivors and communities enabling them to respond, build back, and become more resilient.

These scope of this requirement is to fully establish and integrate the following three primary lines of effort and requirements of a UAS to effectively coordinate air operations and aviation-related services across all Agency offices, directorates in disasters and during surveillance and all phases of response.

• Imagery: UAS required to fly at 1000’ of elevation with still and video capabilities. System must have the ability to record picture/video as well as stream video feed back to the user. Imagery capabilities should include infrared and thermal.
• Logistics/Lift: UAS required to fly at 1000’ of elevation with a minimum 30-minute flight time. UAS should be able to deliver a minimum payload of 200 pounds.
• Confined Space: UAS needs to be able to enter a confined space, such as a collapsed structure entering through areas such as small voids or broken windows. Features need to include position-hold in GPS denied areas, propeller guards, obstacle avoidance, picture/video recording and video streaming capabilities.

APFS REQUIREMENTS

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Response Directorate must ensure that federal emergency response systems and capabilities are properly poised to lean forward to support states and communities overwhelmed by disasters and emergencies. In order to support declared or undeclared emergencies and disaster response operations and other national incidents/events within the United States, its territories and possessions, FEMA may need to provide operational capabilities that utilizes mapping, confined space accessibility, transporting cargo, maneuvering steep hills, video recording and picture capabilities, and collecting data. To meet this need, FEMA requires a contracted source for an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) air support services for various types of UAS. A contract of this type will enable FEMA to proactively support the emergency response needs associated with natural, technological, and man-made disasters in a timely and efficient manner.