The Next Generation First Responder (NGFR) Apex Program seeks to help tomorrow's first responder be more protected, connected and fully aware. When firefighters, law enforcement officers and paramedics have enhanced protection, communication and situational awareness, they are better able to save lives and make it home safely.

NGFR is a five-year program that began in January 2015 but is part of a longer-term Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) commitment to envision and assist the responder of the future. From developing program requirements to testing prototypes, NGFR will continually engage first responders for input and feedback. NGFR’s cutting-edge technologies will improve emergency response time and accelerate decision-making, which means more lives can be saved.

The Next Generation First Responder (NGFR) Apex program is comprised of more than 40 research and development projects geared towards making responders better protected, connected and fully aware. NGFR will incrementally deliver these capabilities over the program lifecycle, and will partner with first responders to test and evaluate technologies before they are available on the market.

NGFR will integrate these projects, as well as existing commercial technologies, through open-source technical and data standards. By creating a “plug-and-play” environment, NGFR encourages innovators to develop interoperable technologies that address first responder needs. Each first responder organization can purchase the equipment they need knowing that each piece will be compatible with the rest. This will make it easier to incorporate new investments and provide alternatives to costly proprietary systems.

As the NGFR video describes, S&T is leveraging existing capabilities and designing new technologies to solve first responder needs such as:

• Protective gear that protects against all hazards;
• Hands-free communications equipment to allow for better multitasking during a response;
• Communications equipment that is more reliable in all environments, including tunnels or areas far from communications towers; and
• Integrated communications that work smoothly between jurisdictions.

To learn more about first responder capability gaps, read Project Responder 4: 2014 National Technology Plan for Emergency Response to Catastrophic Incidents. Project Responder 4 is the result of focus groups that included more than 250 federal, state and local first responders; responder associations; industry; academia; and the National Laboratories’ technical subject matter experts.

Related Publications

• Next Generation First Responder Video
• Next Generation First Responder Fact Sheet
• Next Generation First Responder Communication Hub Fact Sheet
• Next Generation First Responder Internet of Things (IoT) Pilot Phase 1 Fact Sheet
• Project Responder 4: 2014 National Technology Plan for Emergency Response to Catastrophic Incidents
• Next Generation First Responder Infographic
• Assistant for Understanding Data through Reasoning, Extraction and Synthesis (AUDREY) Fact Sheet
• White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) Electronic Jamming Exercise Fact Sheet
• Mobile Ad-hoc Networking (MANET) to Improve Public Safety Situational Awareness Fact Sheet
• Physiological Monitoring Fact Sheet
• Responder Technology Alliance (RTA) Fact Sheet

For additional NGFR publications, visit the First Responders Group Fact Sheets page and First Responders Group Publications page.

Program Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is an Apex program? - The DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) launched several Apex programs to look strategically at the nation’s security and address future challenges while continuing to support today’s operational needs. For more information, please visit the S&T Apex Programs page.
2. Where can I find out more information about the NGFR Apex program? - Please view our fact sheet or watch our video. If you require additional information, please contact us at the email address below.
3. How do I contact NGFR? - Please email First.Responder@hq.dhs.gov.