The PEAC-WMD tool and DHS’s CEDAP 2007

I suspect most of our readers are too busy to monitor changes made to our News and Events page on the AristaTek web site. So to bring our readers up to date, AristaTek’s PEAC‑WMD product will again be offered as a selection in the next round on DHS’s CEDAP (Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program) catalog. This next opportunity is referred to as the CEDAP 2007, and the PEAC package offered is a significantly different configuration than the previous offerings. This time around the PEAC‑WMD software is bundled with both hardware for the Windows version and for the Pocket PC version into a PEAC Incident Command Kit.

CEDAP Discussion

The equipment will be provided mainly to small agencies, departments and jurisdictions. These jurisdictions will have to show they have not been able to purchase this equipment through other sources such as the Office of Grants and Training program. Receipt of equipment under the CEDAP 2007 is contingent upon the submission and approval of the on-line CEDAP application through the Responder Knowledge Base (RKB). Applicants submitted their equipment requests using the RKB at www.rkb.mipt.org.

The CEDAP is a competitive process and applications will be reviewed in the order in which they are received. Applications will be scored, ranked and rated by subject matter experts. Jurisdictions may request only one vendor’s offering in their application. Eligible jurisdictions are strongly encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible. Since applications will be accepted in the order they are received, it is in the best interest of the applicant to submit their applications promptly. The latest information that AristaTek has received is that the CEDAP 2007 application period is to open around March 2007.

The PEAC Incident Command Kit

During the recent years, AristaTek has seen an increase in the number of units purchased by individual response organizations. The increase has been exhibited both in the number of units acquired in initial purchases and in agencies coming back to acquire additional units to support their response capabilities. The PEAC Incident Command Kit provides a turn-key solution by supporting the command post operation while concurrently supporting a survey team, an operations team, and a safety officer during an incident response.

The Command Kit combines the software with hardware in the following configuration: one (1) copy of the PEAC WMD for Windows on a ruggedized laptop (included) combined with three (3) copies of the PEAC WMD for the Pocket PC, each loaded on a ruggedized PDA (included). Included is a train-the-trainer plus technical support and upgrades for 3 years.

The bottom line is that for those agencies that qualify under DHS’s CEDAP 2007 application process and are seeking to improve their ability to respond to a CBRNE and HAZMAT incidents, this may be an ideal opportunity to support that mission. Check the RKB web site (www.rkb.mipt.org) for the most recent updates on the program and to access the application process.