The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate’s (S&T) Next Generation First Responder (NGFR) Apex Program has collaborated with industry and first responders to identify capability gaps in existing technology. The collaboration works toward filling these gaps by integrating current and emerging technologies to improve emergency response, responder safety, and situational awareness. To integrate these technologies, S&T's NGFR Apex program developed an architecture that uses open standards to connect on-body responder technologies with improved data analytics and alerts to make responders better protected, connected, and fully aware.  

S&T’s NGFR Apex program aims to encourage innovators to develop interoperable technologies that address first responder needs. To guide industry in development, design, test, and integration of responder technologies, DHS S&T has created the Next Generation First Responder Integration Handbook, which outlines a “plug-and-play,” standards-based environment that enables commercially-developed technologies to integrate with existing first responder infrastructure.

DHS S&T invites industry to review the NGFR Integration Handbook and provide feedback to improve the level of detail of the technical specifications that will deliver interoperable technology to the first responder marketplace. DHS S&T will provide an opportunity for additional comments twice yearly on a rolling basis.

Interested in providing feedback? Please email NGFR@hq.dhs.gov to receive the required NGFR Integration Handbook comment matrix.

Released by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Sicence and Technology Directorate. Click here for source.