BioWatch Request for Information Updated Clean

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Program Office
Request for Information (RFI) Contract # - 70FA4027I00000005 November 10, 2026
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), FEMA, Office of Resilience, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Support Directorate, requires support to staff identified local field offices and execute the daily BioWatch Program field operations in accordance with the attached Statement of Work (SOW). GENERAL INFORMATION: This RFI is issued solely for information gathering purposes to identify sources that can provide support for the BioWatch program field operations, special events and surge operations, and technology upgrades and integration. In accordance with FAR 15.101(c), RFIs may be used when the Government wants to obtain price, delivery, other market information, and capabilities for planning purposes. Responses to these RFIs are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. This RFI shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government for any purpose, nor does it restrict the Government to an ultimate acquisition approach. Respondents are solely responsible for all expenses associated with their RFI response. Respondents will not receive additional information in response to their submittal to the RFI and will not be notified of the resulting market research.

INTRODUCTION:

DHS’s mission is to safeguard the American people, the homeland, and American values with honor and integrity. In support of this mission, the FEMA works to prevent CBRN attacks against the United States by providing timely, responsive support to operational partners. The CBRN Support Directorate advances this mission through the BioWatch program, the nation’s only civilian program that monitors for aerosol releases of select bioterrorism agents. Since its establishment in 2003, BioWatch has maintained a bioterrorism air monitoring system that operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in large metropolitan areas, known as jurisdictions, and partnered with state and local public health communities to prepare for and respond to bioterrorist events. The BioWatch Program’s strategic objectives are to:
•

Monitor for the highest-priority biological agents that could cause catastrophic outcomes.

•

Protect the nation’s most at-risk locations.

•

Maintain technical oversight of operations in close collaboration with state and local public health partners that execute the program.