[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 190 (Monday, October 1, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49409-49410]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-21241]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

[Docket No. DHS-2018-0051]


Office for Interoperability and Compatibility Seeks Nominations 
for the Project 25 Compliance Assessment Program (P25 CAP) Advisory 
Panel

AGENCY: Science and Technology Directorate, DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is seeking 
nominations and expressions of interest for filling one open position 
on the Project 25 (P25) Compliance Assessment Program (CAP) Advisory 
Panel (AP). The P25 CAP AP holds quarterly meetings with the public on 
topics related to P25 CAP. The next meeting is scheduled for the 
October 2018 timeframe.

DATES: All responses must be received by October 31, 2018 at the 
address listed below.

ADDRESSES: Expressions of interest and nominations shall be submitted 
to [email protected].
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the words 
``Department of Homeland Security'' and DHS-2018-0051.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sridhar Kowdley, Program Manager, 
Office for Interoperability and Compatibility, Science and Technology 
Directorate, Department of Homeland Security, 202-254-8804, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    P25 is a standards development process for the design, manufacture, 
and evaluation of interoperable digital two-way land mobile radio 
communications products created by and for public safety professionals. 
The goal of P25 is to specify formal standards for interfaces and 
features between the various components of a land mobile radio system 
commonly used by public safety agencies in portable handheld and mobile 
vehicle-mounted devices. The P25 standard enables interoperability 
among different suppliers' products.
    P25 CAP was developed by DHS to test equipment designed to comply 
with P25 standards. P25 CAP ensures that communications equipment that 
is declared by the supplier to be P25-compliant, in fact, is tested 
against the standards with publicly published results. The program 
provides public safety agencies with evidence that the communications 
equipment they are purchasing is tested against and complies with the 
P25 standards for performance, conformance, and interoperability. The 
P25 CAP AP provides a resource by which DHS gains insight into the 
collective interest of organizations that procure P25-compliant 
equipment and a resource for DHS to continue to establish the policies 
of the P25 CAP, along with assisting the DHS Office for 
Interoperability and Compatibility (OIC) in the administration of the 
program.
    P25 CAP is a voluntary program that provides a mechanism for the 
recognition of testing laboratories based on internationally accepted 
standards. It identifies competent P25 CAP testing laboratories for 
DHS-recognition through a robust assessment process and promotes the 
acceptance of compliant test results from these laboratories.
    As a voluntary program, P25 CAP allows suppliers to publicly attest 
to their products' compliance with a selected group of requirements 
through Summary Test Report (STR) and Supplier's Declaration of 
Compliance (SDOC) documents based on the Detailed Test Report (DTR) 
from the DHS-recognized laboratory(ies) that performed the product 
testing. In turn, DHS makes these documents available to the first 
response community to inform their purchasing decisions via the 
dhs.gov/science-and-technology/p25-cap website.

Membership

    The Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) of DHS formed the P25 
CAP AP to provide S&T with the views of active local, state, tribal, 
territorial and Federal government officials who use or whose offices 
use portable handheld and mobile vehicle-mounted radios. Those 
government officials selected to participate in the P25 CAP AP are 
selected based on their experience with the management and procurement 
of land mobile radio systems or knowledge of conformity assessment 
programs and methods. The OIC selection process balances viewpoints 
required to effectively address P25 CAP issues under consideration. To 
fill one open position on the P25 CAP AP, OIC is particularly 
interested in receiving nominations and expressions of interest from 
individuals in the following categories:
     State, tribal, territorial, or local government agencies 
and organizations with expertise in communications issues and 
technologies.
     Federal government agencies with expertise in 
communications or homeland security matters.
    While OIC can call for a meeting of the P25 CAP AP as it deems 
necessary and appropriate, for member commitment and planning purposes, 
it is anticipated that the P25 CAP AP will meet approximately 3-4 times 
annually in their role of providing guidance and support to the P25 
CAP.
    Those selected to serve on the P25 CAP AP will be required to sign 
a gratuitous services agreement and will not be paid or reimbursed for 
their participation; however, DHS S&T will, subject to the availability 
of funds, reimburse the travel expenses associated with the 
participation of non-Federal members in accordance with Federal Travel 
Regulations. OIC reserves the right to select primary and alternate 
members to the P25 CAP AP for terms appropriate for the accomplishment 
of the Board's mission. Members serve at the pleasure of the OIC 
Director.
    Registered lobbyists pursuant to the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 
1995 are not eligible for membership on the P25 CAP AP and will not be 
considered.

Roles and Responsibilities

    The duties of the P25 CAP AP will include providing recommendations 
of its individual members to OIC regarding actions and steps OIC could 
take to promote the P25 CAP. The duties of the P25 CAP AP may include 
but are not limited to its members reviewing, commenting on, and 
advising on:
    a. The laboratory component of the P25 CAP under established, 
documented laboratory recognition guidelines.
    b. Proposed Compliance Assessment Bulletins (CABs).
    c. Proposed updates to previously approved CABs, as Notices of 
Proposed CABs, to enable comment and input on the proposed CAB 
modifications.
    d. OIC updates to existing test documents or establishing new test 
documents for new types of P25 equipment.

[[Page 49410]]

    e. Best practices associated with improvement of the policies and 
procedures by which the P25 CAP operates.
    f. Existing test documents including but not limited to SDOCs and 
STRs posted on the dhs.gov/science-and-technology/p25-cap website.
    g. Proposed P25 user input for improving functionality through the 
standards-making process.

Nominations/Expressions of Interest Procedures and Deadline

    Nominations and expressions of interest shall be received by OIC no 
later than October 31, 2018 at the address [email protected]. 
Nominations and expressions of interest received after this date shall 
not be considered. All submissions received must include the words 
``Department of Homeland Security'' and DHS-2018-0051. Each nomination 
and expression of interest must provide the following information as 
part of the submission:
     A cover letter that highlights a history of proven 
leadership within the public safety community including, if applicable, 
a description of prior experience with law enforcement, fire response, 
emergency medical services, emergency communications, National Guard, 
or other first responder roles and how the use of communications in 
those roles qualifies the nominee to participate on the P25 CAP AP.
     Name, title, and organization of the nominee.
     A resume summarizing the nominee's contact information 
(including the mailing address, phone number, facsimile number, and 
email address), qualifications, and expertise to explain why the 
nominee should be appointed to the P25 CAP AP.
     The resume must demonstrate a minimum of ten years (10) 
years of experience directly using P25 systems in an operational 
environment in support of established public safety communications or 
from a system implementer/administrator perspective; a bachelor's or 
associate degree with an emphasis in communications and engineering may 
be substituted for three (3) years, a master's/professional 
certification for seven (7) years, and a Ph.D. for ten (10) years of 
the requirement.
     The resume must discuss the nominee's familiarity with the 
current P25 CAP, including documents that are integral to the process 
such as the SDOCs, STRs, and CABs referenced in this notice.
     A letter from the nominee's supervisor indicating the 
nominee's agency's support for the nominee to participate on the P25 
CAP AP as a representative from their respective agency.
     Disclosure of Federal boards, commissions, committees, 
task forces, or work groups on which the nominee currently serves or 
has served within the past 12 months.
     A statement confirming that the nominee is not registered 
as a lobbyist pursuant to the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995.
    Additional information can be found as follows: Project 25 
Compliance Assessment Program and Compliance Assessment Bulletins. 
https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/bulletins.

    Dated: September 24, 2018.
William N. Bryan,
Senior Official Performing the Duties of Under Secretary for Science 
and Technology, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2018-21241 Filed 9-28-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-9F-P