Standards Guide

Guidance for Using Standards When Selecting and Purchasing Responder Equipment

This document provides guidance related to the use of standards when selecting and purchasing protective and operational equipment for public safety organizations, including law enforcement agencies, fire departments, and emergency medical service agencies. SAVER publications oftentimes contain a list and description of standards relevant to an equipment type. This document informs readers on what standards are, why they are important, how to verify standards are met, and how to include requirements for use of standards in procurement efforts. 

Feature Article: New Fentanyl Detection Standards Protect First Responders

The newly published standards will be put into effect almost immediately through a S&T-led research and development effort with PNNL.

CIS Ombudsman's Recommendations to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services 2007

CIS Ombudsman's Recommendations to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services 2007

S&T Social Media Business Case Guide Fact Sheet

To support agencies that are looking to launch and maximize the benefits of a social media program into their communications, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) developed a Social Media Business Case (Guide). The Guide provides step-by-step guidance on developing a social media program to comprehensively plan for and integrate social media emergency management (SMEM) operations.

After completing the Guide, agencies will have social media processes and plans they can immediately implement to improve operations. Best practices from emergency officials and SMEM subject matter experts (SMEs) captured during development are included throughout the Guide.

Systems Engineering and Standards

The DHS Science and Technology Directorate's Systems Engineering and Standards offers a technical framework to enable sound decision making relative to trade studies, system performance, risk, cost and schedule, and also works with first responders and law enforcement communities to answer the basic question, “What equipment will do the job?”