FEMA/DHS seal
January 5, 2009 
NA: 01-09 
National Integration Center 
Incident Management System 
Integration Division 

NIMS Alert 

202-646-3850 

NIMS Supporting Technology Evaluation Program (NIMS STEP) 

The National Preparedness Directorate (NPD) announces a new program to assist the emergency 
management/response community with identifying products that comply with National Incident Management 
System (NIMS) standards and that are consistent with NIMS concepts and principles. The program, called the 
NIMS Supporting Technology Evaluation Program (NIMS STEP), provides independent, third party evaluations of 
supporting technologies. 

The program has the three primary objectives: 

• To evaluate products for their incorporation of NIMS concepts and principles. 
• To determine product’s adherence to the Organization for the Advancement of Structured 
Information Standards (OASIS) Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) 1.1 standard. 
• To determine product’s adherence to the OASIS Emergency Data eXchange Language- 
Distribution Element (EDXL-DE) 1.0 standard. 


Experts in the field of emergency management/response assess each product in a non-operational environment and 
provide an assessment based on guidelines determined by NIMS (publication FEMA 501). Test engineers evaluate 
product’s adherence to NIMS recommended standards and conduct assessments that provide vendors with an 
independent process for identifying gaps and making improvements to their products. The test reports will also 
provide officials with data to assist in making procurement decisions. 

NIMS STEP evaluation activities are conducted at the NIMS Support Center (NIMS SC) in Somerset, Kentucky. 
The facility is equipped to evaluate products that support emergency managers/responders in decision-making prior 
to and during an incident, such as alert and warning, command and control, and resource management applications. 

Vendor participation in NIMS STEP is voluntary and the evaluation results and use of trade names in the report do 
not constitute a DHS or FEMA certification or endorsement of the use of such commercial hardware or software. 
The evaluations do not constitute a determination of NIMS compliance. 

For additional information on the NIMS STEP program or to apply to have your product evaluated, visit 
www.nimsstep.org or www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/CommunicationsInfoMngmnt.shtm. 

NPD values your input and would appreciate any feedback you might have on the NIMS STEP program. To provide 
feedback or if you have any questions about the program or application process, direct your email to FEMANIMS@
dhs.gov. 

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