California Earthquake Early Warning System (CEEWS)

Key dates for responding to this solicitation:

  • 15 June 2023: RFP release
  • 30 June 2023: submitting questions to peer_center@berkeley.edu
  • 21 July 2023 deadline to submit proposal - Now Closed
  • 28 July 2023: completion of the review process of all proposals and announcing the selected one
  • 1 August 2023: project start date

The Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center (PEER) is a multi-institutional research and education center with headquarters at the University of California, Berkeley. Investigators from over 20 universities, several consulting companies, plus researchers at various State and Federal government agencies contribute to research programs focused on performance-based earthquake engineering in disciplines including structural and geotechnical engineering, geology/seismology, lifelines, transportation, risk management, and public policy.

Through an agreement with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), PEER is soliciting proposals from consultants to conduct research, systematic information gathering, and analysis for a qualitative and quantitative assessment of the California Earthquake Early Warning System (CEEWS).

The funded project is expected to provide an update to the earlier studies of PEER and CalOES, particularly the 2016 study produced by PEER and a subsequent 2020 study led by Catalyst Environmental Solutions, also commissioned by CalOES.

The objectives are to provide: (1) a qualitative update evaluating the value of CEEWS to key sectors of the state’s infrastructure and business communities for (i) public and employee safety, (ii) business resiliency, and (iii) the protection of infrastructure critical to communities and the economy, and (2) a quantitative update, in a benefit-cost analysis format, of the CEEWS system, including current costs, cost of savings, potential future costs, and maintenance costs.

Several important points to consider are as follows:

  1. Project start and end dates will be 8/1/2023 and 12/14/2024, respectively.
  2. The project can be led by investigators from the PEER core institutions1 , from the PEER Business and Industry Partners (BIPs) or other firms and government agencies, with experiences evaluated on a case by case.
  3. The budget cannot exceed $200,000. Only one project will be awarded.
  4. The proposing institutions may waive indirect costs, as is the practice for University of California institutions. PEER can provide a support letter for this purpose.
  5. The proposers should demonstrate prior experience and expertise with the development, utilization, and/or evaluation of EEW systems.
  6. It is strongly encouraged the proposers have experience with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) benefit-cost analysis requirements specific to their Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Grant Program, and be able to include these elements in this project.
  7. The proposers should be willing to work with PEER and CalOES staff for technical and logistics assistance, e.g., to gather available documents and data and conduct interviews.
  8. The proposers should commit to attending project meetings scheduled/coordinated by PEER and/or CalOES and submit a report at the end of the project to PEER and CalOES, documenting the project findings, contributions, and future recommendations.
  9. The review process for the proposals will involve reviewers selected by PEER and CalOES. Proposals will be evaluated based on the primary criteria of qualifications, broader impact, and technical merit. All proposed research projects will be subjected to final approval by the PEER Director in consultation with CalOES.

1PEER combines resources of major research universities in Western USA (UC Berkeley, CALTECH, OSU, Stanford, UC Davis, UCI, UCLA, UCSD, UNR, USC, and UW) where earthquake hazards are largest.