The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL), a SAVER Technical Agent, is seeking information on commercially available extrication devices. An extrication device is an item of rescue equipment or tool that is generally used by emergency responders to remove and transport casualties from the scene of an emergency. This equipment is typically used in high-threat environments that may entail working in tight or limited spaces where victims may sometimes be difficult to access and have limited or no mobility.

Information collected will be published in a market survey of commercially available products by the System Assessment and Validation for Emergency Responders (SAVER) Program. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) established the SAVER Program to assist emergency responders making procurement decisions. Located within the Science & Technology Directorate (S&T) of DHS, the SAVER Program conducts objective assessments and validations on commercial equipment and systems, and provides those results along with other relevant equipment information to the emergency response community in an operationally useful form. Information provided by the SAVER Program will be shared nationally with the responder community, providing a life- and cost-saving asset to DHS, as well as to Federal, state, and local responders.

SAVER provides information on equipment that falls within the categories listed in the DHS Authorized Equipment List (AEL). The AEL item number for the subject equipment is 09ME-05-LITR (Medical Equipment, Patient Movement and Transfer, Litters & Stretchers). The scope of this project is limited to the following four types of non-motorized extrication devices: (1) carry type; (2) litter type; (3) drag type; and (4) roll type. Motorized extrication devices will not be included in this market survey. The target audience for this information includes emergency response providers from emergency management agencies, fire services, emergency medical services, health care, search and rescue, and their purchasing agents.

II. SUBMISSION OF INFORMATION

Respondents are required to complete a Product Summary Questionnaire for each product. The questionnaire may be obtained via e-mail from the technical point of contact, Miles Dionisio, at [email protected]. The Product Summary Questionnaire includes questions seeking the following specific information:
1. Company's name and address
2. Point(s) of contact (name, title, e-mail, and phone number)
3. Business type (manufacturer or distributor)
4. Product name, description, and specifications
5. Product cost and warranty information

All information received will be treated as public knowledge and may be used in SAVER Program documentation; therefore, vendors should not submit proprietary information in response to this RFI.

Responses to this RFI must be submitted no later than 4:00 PM EST, September 3, 2013. All technical comments, inquiries, and responses should be directed to Miles Dionisio via e-mail at [email protected]; all non-technical questions should be directed to Sharon Flowers, DHS Contracting Officer, via e-mail at [email protected].

III. OTHER

The submitted information will be evaluated for inclusion in SAVER projects and reports. Determination as to an individual product's suitability will be made by NUSTL based on the objectives of this request. Therefore, requests for feedback should not be made through the Federal Business Opportunities posting agency. Vendors may be contacted following submission for more detailed product information. Vendor provided information may be reformatted for publication in SAVER Program documents.
This RFI is for information gathering and planning purposes only, and should not be construed as a Request for Proposal (RFP) or solicitation of an offer. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI or otherwise pay for the information solicited. Submission of vendor information constitutes consent to publication of that information in SAVER Program documentation.