FireWERX CHALLENGE DAY · PHASE 1 OF PILOT-TO-SCALE PATHWAYS
Dismounted Resource
Tracking Challenge
Seeking operationally grounded solutions that give fire agencies continuous, reliable location data on dismounted wildland firefighters operating in remote, communications-degraded terrain.
HOST FIRE INNOVATION UNIT
(FIU) PARTNER
Orange County Fire Authority
FUNDING AVAILABLE
Up to $300,000
SOLICITATION DATES
Sept 30 - Oct 18, 2026
ABOUT THE CHALLENGE
A FireWERX Pilot-to-Scale Pathway Challenge
Phase 1
End-user defined needs
Starting with fire agency- defined innovation needs, FireWERX invites innovators to develop the most promising solutions.
FireWERX is a global nonprofit dedicated to accelerating innovation and empowering the Firefighter to end the wildfire crisis. FireWERX supports Fire Innovation Units and connects them to the broader Wildfire Innovation Ecosystem of technologists, funders, researchers, academics, and policy experts — accelerating promising solutions that meet agency-defined needs through structured Pilot-to-Scale Pathways towards adoption and scale.
This Challenge is the first public launch of that model.
Phase 2
Controlled Pilots
Fund the winning solution(s) for refinement, co-development, and testing with FIUs in controlled, non-emergency settings.
Phase 3
Real-world Trials
Validate performance with firefighters under realistic operational conditions, share progress and findings with other fire agencies, and support broader agency adoption.
PARTICIPATION
The Challenge is only the beginning
Winning teams will work alongside participating Fire Innovation Units to refine their solutions against end-user-defined needs, validate them in operationally relevant environments, and build the evidence another agency needs to adopt it.
Work Alongside Fire Agencies
A structured opportunity to engage with Fire Innovation Units
Access Testbeds Under Realistic Conditions
Test, refine and validate solutions under realistic conditions
Get Direct Feedback
Opportunities for co-development of solutions agencies need
THE OPERATIONAL NEED
Fire agencies seek solutions for near-continuous tracking of dismounted firefighters operating in remote and communications-degraded environments.
Dismounted wildland firefighters routinely operate for extended periods in remote terrain with limited connectivity, limited power, and obstructed line of sight. Incident commanders and aircraft crews may lack continuous visibility into where personnel are and whether conditions are placing them at risk.
The result is not one isolated technology gap. It affects routine crew coordination, resupply and evacuation decisions, aerial operations, and the response to an incident within an incident. Agencies need a reliable, integrated capability that works within their operational environment.
Crew operations and safety
Without near-continuous location data, command cannot reliably reposition, resupply, or evacuate personnel as conditions change.
Emergency response latency
When a resource is overdue, missing, or injured, responders may be working from a last radio contact or a physical search—not a verified current position.
Aerial drop-zone safety
Aircraft crews may be unable to confirm that personnel and equipment are clear before suppressants are released.
Crew health
Command has limited visibility into heat strain and exertion that could inform earlier medical response.
Desired end state
A low-burden, interoperable capability that works in communications-degraded environments and can be integrated into an agency's existing Common Operating Picture.
TIMELINE
Key Dates
Sept 30
Solicitation opens
Oct 18
Solicitation closes
Oct 30
Finalists notified
Dec 14
Challenge Day
Dec 21
Winner(s) notified
Jan 11
Sub-grant award
All dates are current planning targets and subject to change.
FUNDING + EVALUATION
UP TO $300,000
FireWERX may award up to $300,000 in total challenge funding to one or more selected teams subject to the merits of solutions reviewed against core criteria.
Funding is intended to help selected teams refine and advance solutions against end-user defined needs identified by participating FIU(s). This may include technical refinement, operational evaluation, testing in relevant environments, and additional FireWERX Pilot-to-Scale Pathway opportunities.
HOW SUBMISSIONS ARE SCORED
Core criteria total 100%. Secondary capabilities may earn up to 10 bonus points.
I. Tracking Performance and Reliability
30%
Location accuracy, update cadence, connectivity and failover, full-shift power, and environmental durability.
II. Integration, Data, and Interoperability
25%
Common Operating Picture integration, data governance and security, and data filtering and management.
III. Operational Fit and Human Factors
25%
Wearability, emergency alerts, user interfaces, activation workflow, and training burden.
IV. Feasibility, Cost, and Scalability
20%
Unit cost, maintenance requirements, and demonstrated path to scaled deployment
V. Secondary Capabilities
up to 10%
Drop-Zone detection and health monitoring. Encouraged, but not required for eligibility.
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CHALLENGE DAY
Two components under consistent evaluation conditions
FIELD DEMONSTRATION
Live test course measuring location accuracy, connectivity failover, alerts, and Common Operating Picture integration.
TECHNICAL REVIEW
Review of solution architecture and requirements not fully observable in the live test, including battery life, data governance, and scalability.
Judging panel: FireWERX staff + FIU subject-matter experts
ELIGIBILITY
Who Can Apply?
ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS
The Challenge is open to for-profit companies of any size, nonprofit organizations, academic and research institutions, and individuals or informal teams. An individual may take part alone or as a member of an eligible team or entity.
GEOGRAPHIC ELIGIBILITY
Both U.S. and international. participants may apply. Full eligibility requirements and legal terms are provided in Section 7 of the full solicitation.
HOW TO APPLY
Questions before you apply
What is the Dismounted Resource Tracking Challenge?
It is a FireWERX Pilot-to-Scale Pathway Challenge seeking technology that can provide continuous, reliable location data—and optionally health data/Drop-Zone Detection—for dismounted wildland firefighters operating in remote, communications-degraded terrain. Selected solutions will move into structured refinement and testing with the Host FIUs.
Can we propose an integrated solution using technology from multiple vendors?
Yes. Participants combining commercially available technologies from multiple vendors are explicitly encouraged to apply. The application must identify one primary participant. Learn more in SOL Section 7.5.
Do we need to address all three use cases?
No. Dismounted location tracking is required. Drop-zone detection and health monitoring are optional and may earn bonus points.
Can organizations outside the United States apply?
Yes. Both U.S. and international participants are eligible.
Who owns the intellectual property?
Applicants retain ownership of their pre-existing technology. For work conducted with sub-grant funding or through Host FIU testing, applicants retain their underlying intellectual property and grant FireWERX and the Host FIUs a nonexclusive license to use project results for evaluation and reporting. Review the full Terms and Conditions in the solicitation.
Will winners be named publicly?
Submissions are confidential. FireWERX will not describe a participant as “selected” or “funded” until due diligence is complete and the sub-grant agreement is final.
Where should questions be directed?
RESOURCES AND DOCUMENTS
Full Solicitation
Eligibility requirements, success measures, evaluation process, schedule, and Terms and Conditions.
QUESTIONS?