As local officials begin the process to issue alerts through FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), the Department of Homeland Security has announced that it will fund research designed to enhance an IPAWS program that went live a few weeks ago. DHS’s Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T) will fund research into the Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS), the new system for sending alerts to mobile devices without requiring the public to sign-up.
Specifically, S&T is seeking Research, Development, Testing and Evaluation (RDT&E) activities in the following areas:
- Public Response: Research to better understand how the public will respond to alert and warning messages on mobile devices
- Diverse Populations: Research to better understand how to ensure timely and effective access to alerts and warnings for diverse populations, including
o People with functional and access needs
o Transients/tourists
o Older Americans
o Isolated/rural populations
o Institutional populations, and
o Limited English Proficiency populations
- Geo-Targeting: Research to better determine when more granular geo-targeting is appropriate and how broadly targeting should be extended from the point of an incident, as well as identification, testing, and evaluation of technologies that provide the capability of more granular geo-targeting
Applications are due May 24. Funding will be granted for projects demonstrating the potential for significant improvement or greater understanding in the aforementioned areas. For more information, as well as applications, visit grants.gov.
