BASE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION

The Base Emergency Communication (BEC) program, as outlined in Line Item 9668B74000, is a consolidated Army procurement initiative designed to modernize and integrate emergency communications infrastructure across Army Installations, Depots, and Activities (I/D/A) worldwide. The program's primary objective is to enhance the Army's Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) capabilities, ensuring that first responders and emergency management personnel have access to interoperable, reliable, and secure communications systems. This consolidation brings together the former Base Support Communications and Emergency Management Modernization Program under a unified framework to streamline procurement, increase efficiency, and improve interoperability.

Base Support Communication is a key component of the BEC program, focusing on the modernization of Land Mobile Radio (LMR) systems. The goal is to provide real-time, mission-critical voice and data communications for first responders, including Military Police, Fire Departments, and Emergency Medical Services. Funding supports LMR upgrades at Sierra Army Depot (CA), Ft. Devens (MA), and Ft. Irwin/National Training Center (CA). This modernization effort transitions legacy stand-alone LMR systems to a regionalized, centralized, and interoperable architecture, integrating with Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG-911), Enterprise Mass Warning Notification (EMWN), and First Responder Broadband Network (FRBN) systems.

The LMR modernization is justified by the need to comply with public law mandating migration to Internet Protocol (IP)-based emergency infrastructure. Centralizing LMR systems enhances cost-effectiveness, increases cybersecurity, and supports seamless communication with Mutual Aid Partners at the federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial levels. Site-specific requirements are determined through government surveys and stakeholder coordination, ensuring that each installation's unique operational needs are met.

Emergency Management Modernization Program (EM2P) addresses the Army's need to upgrade and standardize emergency management capabilities, specifically focusing on Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) modernization. Funding is allocated to modernize NG-911 infrastructure, CAD, Geospatial Information Systems (GIS), and Location Information Services (LIS) at key installations, including West Point (NY), Ft. Huachuca (AZ), Ft. Hunter Liggett (CA), Red River Army Depot (TX), Pine Bluff Arsenal (AR), Detroit Arsenal (MI), Ft. Eustis (VA), and Ft. Sill (OK). The objective is to ensure statutory compliance with federal laws such as Kari's Law Act of 2017 and Ray Baum's Act of 2018, which require direct 911 dialing and automatic location identification for all emergency calls.

The PSAP modernization initiative involves the procurement of Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) Non-Developmental Items (NDI) to implement digital, IP-based NG-911 systems. These upgrades enable the rapid and accurate routing of emergency calls, support voice, video, and text communications, and improve the Army's ability to manage call overloads and natural disasters. CAD systems serve as the central hub for dispatching, logging, and tracking calls for service, and are designed to interoperate with existing force protection systems and mutual aid partner networks.

Another critical objective of the BEC program is the enhancement of Enterprise Mass Warning Notification (EMWN) systems, which deliver timely hazard alerts to military communities through various channels, including cloud-based alerts, outdoor speakers, and telephone notifications. These capabilities are essential for providing at-risk populations with rapid warnings during no-notice threats or emergencies, supporting both military and civilian emergency management operations.