U.S. DOE seeks partner for biometric wearable system for first responders

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is currently undergoing a multiyear project to develop a wearable communication system for emergency responders and according to the “sources sought” document on FedBizOpps, PNNL is seeking a wearable technology partner with specific expertise in the integration of communications systems regularly used by the emergency management and first responder community.

The lab has requested that the partner has extensive knowledge in 4G LTE cellular technology for public safety communications, Federal Land Mobile Radio Systems, and Wi-Fi and satellite systems, among its list of criteria.

In addition, PNNL is looking for companies that are able to integrate these systems into wearable components that would give first responders the ability to successfully send and receive important voice, video, and data messages from fellow responders, incident commanders, dispatchers and central command and control facilities.

PNNL has also specified in the document that the partner’s conceptual design approach should include activated, hands free, two-way voice, video and data communications with multiple parties; GPS-enabled blue force tracking of each responder; active noise cancelling capability to prevent any unwanted background noise; and smart technology to find and transition between cellular, LMR, Wi-Fi, and satellite systems as well as send and receive information based on information priorities and infrastructure availability.

In addition, the partner must have integrated sensors monitoring video, heart rate, external/internal temperatures; the ability to record and store up to 12 hours of data; and a seamless transition to existing federal land-based mobile systems and the ability to prove compliance with current Federal Communications Security Protocols for Emergency Management.

The deadline to submit is Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 8:00 a.m. PST.

Article Topics

biometrics  |  United States  |  wearables