Responder News -- When it comes to tools and technology first responders need to do their jobs, they want to know “What equipment is available?” “How does it perform?” SAVER’s reports help first responders answer these questions. The U.S Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) established the System Assessment and Validation for Emergency Responders (SAVER) Program to assist emergency responders making procurement decisions. Managed 
by S&T’s National Urban Security Technology Laboratory, the SAVER Program conducts operationally oriented assessments and validations on commercial equipment and systems, and provides those results along with other relevant information to the emergency response community.
Since 2004, more than 1,000 emergency responders have participated in SAVER focus groups and assessment activities, ensuring SAVER reports are relevant and meet the operational needs of the responder community.
There are several types of SAVER products:
- TechNotes provide a short, high-level overview that answers basic questions on available technologies, what it is, what it’s used for and how it works.
- Assessment Reports provide the results of week-long comparative evaluations of equipment based on criteria established in a focus group of emergency responders.
- Focus Group Reports provide evaluation criteria responders consider important when making an acquisition or operational decision.
- Handbooks provide a reference for responders describing a technology’s capabilities and limitations, operating principles and applications.
- Market Survey Reports provide a snapshot of the current commercial marketplace for a type of equipment, including technical specifications, manufacturer information and costs.
- Application Notes provide information and recommendations on the operational usage of a specific technology.
SAVER reports are available to the responder community at no cost. Here are just a few examples of reports that are available to download:
- Anti-Ram Vehicle Barriers
- Blast Resistant Trash Receptacles
- Chemical Agent Detection Equipment
- Computer Forensic Software
- Handheld Underwater Metal Detectors
- Portable Wireless Surveillance Systems
“In 2018, emergency responders can anticipate focus group and assessment reports on: body armor for women; gas chromatograph mass spectrometers; less-than-lethal mitigation equipment; small unmanned aerial systems for search and rescue; tourniquets; and more,” said S&T SAVER Program Manager Brian Warner.
The complete SAVER document library is organized and searchable by the FEMA Authorized Equipment List (AEL) to make it easier to align SAVER product evaluations to the equipment types allowable in FEMA’s Preparedness Grant Programs.
For more information about SAVER, contact us at NUSTL@hq.dhs.gov.