DHS - Chemical Defense Technical Analysis - MRAS

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in collaboration with the General Services Administration (GSA), is conducting market research to support the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Chemical Support Branch. The primary goal of this initiative is to enhance national preparedness and response capabilities against chemical incidents. By developing comprehensive guidance for Federal, State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial (FSLTT) responders, DHS aims to strengthen the frontline defense against chemical terrorism threats and improve emergency response effectiveness.

The scope of work involves conducting technical analyses and revising existing national chemical defense guidance. This includes updating the 2014 Patient Decontamination in a Mass Chemical Exposure Incident: National Planning Guidance for Communities to reflect current research and practices. The revised guidance will be operationally relevant, allowing for its swift integration into community response plans. Additionally, new detection prioritization schemas and standard operating procedures will be developed for special event preparations. The project also involves revising a suite of guidance documents from 2019 aimed at frontline responders, incorporating updated unclassified information.

To achieve these objectives, the contractor will conduct comprehensive reviews of recent literature from peer-reviewed journals, trade periodicals, federal policies, and strategies since 2014. Focus groups with frontline responders will provide insights into current practices and challenges in decontamination processes. These focus groups will also review draft versions of the revised guidance to ensure clarity and usability for intended audiences such as emergency management personnel and healthcare organizations.

The project will involve forming or utilizing an existing interagency working group to review the new guidance collaboratively. An operationally relevant version with specific actions for incorporation into response plans will be developed alongside revisions to existing FGA documents based on recent research findings. This effort underscores DHS's commitment to building a layered defense strategy that deters future attacks by ensuring jurisdictions are well-prepared to respond effectively during chemical emergencies.