RFI - Interagency Wildland Fire Personnel and Asset Tracking for Increased Situational Awareness

Background
The USDA Forest Service, on behalf of the interagency wildland fire community, wishes to conduct a Request for Information that will serve as market research around tracking wildland fire resources (personnel and assets). The 2019 John D. Dingell, Jr. Act contained requirements to modernize wildfire technology. One of those requirements is specifically directed at wildland fire resource tracking: Implement a Resource Tracking / location system for wildland firefighters.

The Forest Service wants to ensure the right strategies, industry participants, and processes are established to conduct an efficient, robust competition.

Work Details
The interagency wildland fire community completed pilot projects required by the Act in 2021. These pilots provided valuable information towards the development of requirements for implementation of a resource tracking system. In addition, the pilots assisted with providing a framework for establishing procedures for data collection, storage, and transfer. Wildland fire resource tracking is an integral part of real- or near-real time situational awareness – and an emerging need for wildland fire decision makers.

Operational Environment: Wildland fire operations occur in locations that are rugged, often with a lack of access; there can be little to no cellular connectivity or access to internet or data across much of a fire area; radio (voice) is the primary means of communication.