Disaster Response Branch FEMA Enterprise Service Provider (FESP) Equipment Refresh

This request is for Information Technology that is critical to FEMA's disaster response mission. The equipment is managed and installed by the OCIO Disaster Response Branch. The Disaster Response Branch mission is to provide voice, data, and video technologies for disaster field office in compliance with DHS/FEMA policy. The Disaster Response Branch (DR) is the only branch with authority to extend the FEMA Enterprise Service Provider (FESP, formerly FEN) into the field offices created during times of presidentially declared federal disasters. This request is for necessary equipment to provide equipment within the disaster facilities to enable internal and external communications for federal, state, and tribal governments. In order to fulfill this mission critical IT infrastructure equipment must be replaced and/or purchased to comply with strict DHS/FEMA security standards. This equipment includes but is not limited to Cisco equipment and hardware, peripherals and various consumables. This equipment is used exclusively for disaster operations and cannot legally be used for any other purpose. In order to mitigate this risk of mission failure, and the security risk to the Agency and DHS as a whole, expedited purchase of equipment that meets FEMA/DHS security and configuration requirements is essential. Without this approval, the impact to mission response times will be affected greatly. The Disaster Response Branch will not be able to effectively complete their mission in supporting the disaster field operations and survivors resulting in survivors not getting the appropriate and necessary assistance in field operations.