The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) is seeking information on technology and estimated costs required for establishing a Department of Defense (DoD) Public Safety Communications (PSC) ecosystem.
In a recent request for information (RFI) on Beta.Sam.gov, DISA said is looking for innovative strategies for the development of a distributed architecture that will support the future DoD PSC enterprise. DISA said it is most interested in technologies and capabilities from the commercial sector currently being deployed by state and municipal PSC environments.
The overhaul is called for the DoD’s C3 Modernization Strategy and will impact all DoD bases, posts, camps, and station environments in the United States and 18 countries. DISA said that the upgraded functionalities will also need to work on DoD ships, submarines, and other watercraft. “How these platforms deliver NG911 [Next Generation 9-1-1] capabilities while at sea, versus when they are pier-side and connected to the base infrastructure will need to be accomplished,” DoD said.
DoD noted that it is also looking to coordinate with supporting public safety government authorities and telecommunication service providers on the modernization effort.
Specifically, the RFI is requesting information on all aspects of what is needed for a PSC ecosystem, including:
- Establishing a DoD Information Network-hosted Emergency Services Intranet with Location-Based Routing;
- Supporting the introduction of Session Initiation Protocol/Voice over Internet Protocol technology with location routing for 9-1-1 call handling;
- Upgrading legacy Time Division Multiplex 911/E911 Public Safety Answering Point systems to Internet Protocol (IP)-based NG911 systems with integrated Computer Aided Dispatch capabilities;
- Establishing an enterprise Emergency Mass Warning Notification solution that supports the entire DoD;
- Upgrading legacy Land Mobile Radio interfaces to the PSC to IP and integrating FirstNet into the DoD PSC enterprise; and
- Upgrading legacy Burglar and Fire Alarm Panels from using Plain Old Telephone System dial-up lines to employing IP over Ethernet or wireless Long Term Evolution radio modems.
Responses are due Nov. 18. DISA anticipates that the initial upgrades will be completed in late FY2022 or early FY2023.
