Software Defined Radio for Public Safety (SDR-PS)

Communication is paramount for first responders (firefighters, EMS, and law enforcement) to ensure effective mission response, coordination of resources, and ensure officer/agent safety during emergency operations. First responders, including officers of DHS Components (Customers and Border Protection, Federal Protective Service, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, US Coast Guard, US Secret Service, Transportation Security Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency), often work in locations where access to network infrastructure is unavailable. For example, incident response in remote areas may be beyond the reach of existing network infrastructure. Additionally, during disasters or major incidents, networks may be congested or unavailable for use, resulting in a lack of communications. The current solution requires first responders to carry both land mobile radios (LMR) and broadband devices to allow operations on infrastructure (Cellular Networks). Although this solution offers resiliency, it is cumbersome and impractical to carry multiple devices. It also does not address all the critical communication needs during emergency responses. Another issue with the current solution is that traditional LMR radios are a long-term investment of at least 7-10 years and does not adapt as readily to changing technologies and advanced communications evolution. Industry defines software-defined radio (SDR) as a radio communication system where components that conventionally have been implemented using analog hardware, are instead implemented by means of software and digital hardware on a personal computer or embedded system. SDR can tune to different frequencies and process various signals, from FM radio to 5G, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. SDR enables flexibility, reconfigurability, and interoperability of wireless systems, as well as a lower cost and power consumption. This topic seeks a novel approach to SDR for public safety that addresses the needs of first responders while providing flexibility, reconfigurability, and interoperability to maximize the value of radio investments. The proposed SDR-PS solution should: Support communications on and off network infrastructure. Allow for critical transmission on multiple bands and systems due to failed infrastructure or severe congestion. o For example, operation could allow for transmitting alert or emergency messages on several bands and systems either in parallel or sequentially with location. Allow operation over multiple modes (device-to-device meshing, provide range extension at fringe areas). Address the critical communication needs of first responders, to include emergency broadcasts, multiple users and channels. Consider where and what conditions the system must operate under; Extreme heat and cold, moisture, ruggedized to support: impact from dropped/tossed, scrapped, or heavy weight. Allow for operations in ultra remote areas by providing range extension or operation from device-to-device in areas of no coverage to mixed mode (using device-to-device and device-to-infrastructure) in fringe coverage areas. Support multiple open-standards (e.g., Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) mesh, LTE (3rd Generation Partnership Project standard including High Power UE)), 5G, Project 25 (P25), Digital Mobile Radio, Tetra). Consider availability, supportability, scalability, and sustainability of source components. Enable future-proofing and transitional technologies. Be capable of upgrading via software (new capabilities, standards, or use cases of technologies). Improve on the size, weight, and portability compared to existing communication devices. The required proposed solution objectives include: Wide band transceivers to cover a range of 150MHz-6GHz (Spectrum flexibility). Operate with high power (variable with up to 3Watts desired optionally up to 6 watts at very high frequency (VHF)). Hardware abstraction (potential for future proofing loading by loading in any standard software-based communications standards to use the hardware platform). Design and approach shall meet Federal Encryption Standards (AES 256 and FIPS compliance). Battery capable of no less than 12 hours of continuous operations. A ruggedized design to support field operations to include durability for abrasions, rainy environments, intrinsically safe, protection from five-foot drop, and exposure to extreme heat or cold (120 degrees F to minus 16 degrees F). Lower cost is highly desired (ideal target costs should be less than $3k).