In a request for information (RFI) released Feb. 21, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is seeking responses around earthquake early warning (EEW). The office has partnered with the California Institute of Technology, the California Geological Survey (CGS), the University of California, the United States Geological Survey (USGS), and the Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission to expand and bolster a “network of seismic stations that detects earthquakes to create EEW alerts.” Among the takeaways:
- Cal OES’ California Earthquake Early Warning Program (CEEWS), together with CGS, is seeking “potential vendors that can provide options for considerations for earthquake early warning solutions and systems, delivery modes, and/or demonstrations” at critical facilities, according to the RFI. These include the State Operations Center and Cal OES locations like its headquarters in Mather; the coastal regional office in Fairfield; and the southern regional offices in Los Alamitos and San Diego. Other locations may be added as needed.
- The applications, products and/or services, per the RFI, would use the USGS ShakeAlert signal to “expand the use and application of the CEEWS throughout Cal OES facilities in two critical areas.” They would alert staff and people working in Cal OES buildings to take steps to protect themselves before actual shaking begins, via EEW equipment and systems such as public address systems and intercoms; an Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible message board; handheld two-way radios; and other methods. And they would enable the taking of “automated protective actions by activating or ceasing critical processes before shaking starts” to lessen injuries and reduce property damage by opening gates; slowing or stopping devices like escalators and elevators; clearing and controlling things like gas and water throttle valves; and de-energizing electrical control panels.
“Increased focus on automated protective actions will continue due to clear indications from benefit-cost analyses that such actions are highly cost-effective at saving lives and preventing injuries and property loss,” Cal OES said in the RFI. “This ultimately will also support the continuity of operations throughout an incident.” - Cal OES seeks information on innovative solutions incorporating attributes including public alerting and “automated protective actions.” Respondents should describe whether a proposed solution has been used “in other applications and/or settings, industries, and organizations” and give examples; tell whether the solution accommodates people with “access and functional needs”; describe cost estimates for equipment and/or services; provide implementation and installation timeframes; describe additional costs; and provide detail on the respondent’s ability to contract or subcontract out the installation of solutions.
- Respondents should also describe how their proposed solution “addresses, reduces, and minimizes” earthquake impacts; how much the equipment — applications, products, and/or services — and installation costs; how long it will take the company to produce and install it; and whether it’s scalable. Also important is the company’s production capability and, if applicable, how many units it can produce per week and per month; whether the solution has “special water, sewer, or electrical requirements”; whether permits or permissions are required; its dimensions; and whether the company has experience working with an emergency operations center. Responses to the RFI are due by March 10.
