For Immediate Release
DHS Science & Technology Press Office
Contact: John Verrico, (202) 254-2385
WASHINGTON—Applications are now being accepted for the NextGen First Responder Technologies solicitation, an opportunity for a maximum conditional grant of up to $1 million, jointly funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and the Israeli Ministry of Public Security.
The NextGen First Responder Technologies program is looking for innovations in fields such as protective clothing, wearable technology, and situational awareness. Submission details and a full list of capability gaps are available on the Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation website. The deadline for executive summaries is February 15, 2017 and final proposals are due by April 5, 2017. Decisions are expected to be issued in June 2017.
“We’re extremely proud to partner with Israel to ensure that our valued first responder community has the best tools to perform their duties efficiently and safely,” said Deputy Under Secretary for Science and Technology Dr. Robert Griffin, a former first responder. “This is the second time we have partnered with Israel in this manner, with last year’s partnership yielding interest from dozens of companies and 12 proposals for development. I am pleased to renew this partnership and our commitment to its mission.”
The BIRD Foundation is a unique U.S.-Israeli partnership, originally outlined in 2008 as a part of a broader agreement between the two nations, and is designed to promote and jointly fund the development of advanced technologies to improve and enhance the preparedness of first responders and their capabilities in the field.
For submission information, please contact:
In Israel: Ms. Einat Spivak, einat@birdf.com, Tel: 972-3-698-8301
In the United States: Ms. Andrea Yonah, andreay@birdf.com, Tel: 609-356-0305
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