A. BACKGROUND INFORMATION CERT teams in San Bernardino County are vital to local emergency preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. The Consultant shall design, develop, conduct, and evaluate the entire CERT Exercise Series on behalf of the County. The Consultant shall ensure the proposed CERT Exercise Series project is designed to enhance community preparedness and resilience by conducting regular, realistic emergency response exercises involving CERT volunteers and local agencies. The Consultant shall ensure these drills simulate various disaster scenarios such as earthquakes, floods, or severe storms, enabling participants to practice essential skills like search and rescue, first aid, and communication coordination. Through hands-on training and teamwork, the project aims to improve the overall readiness of community members to effectively respond to emergencies until professional responders arrive. The Consultant shall ensure the CERT Exercise Series will simulate realistic hazard scenarios to test and improve CERT capabilities in mitigation planning, public engagement, and community coordination. The Consultant shall ensure the CERT Exercise Series aligns with FEMA’s Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program and reflect local hazard profiles such as wildfires, earthquakes, and floods. B. PROJECT DESCRIPTION This project supports the County by strengthening local emergency response capabilities, fostering collaboration between CERT teams and official emergency management agencies, and increasing public awareness about disaster preparedness. By regularly testing and refining response plans, the CERT Exercise Series project helps ensure a quicker, more organized, and efficient community reaction during actual disasters, ultimately reducing the impact on lives, property, and county resources. The Consultant shall design, coordinate, and deliver a series of three (3) CERT exercises, ensuring participation from CERT members, local emergency management personnel, and community stakeholders/volunteers. The Consultant shall also evaluate performance, document lessons learned, and recommend improvements in resilience. C. TASKS The Consultant shall be responsible for completion of the following tasks: 1. Task 1: Participant Engagement a. Recruit and engage a minimum of 100 CERT participants across San Bernardino County. b. Coordinate participation of local emergency management personnel. c. Involve community stakeholders and volunteers in exercise activities. 2. Task 2: Exercise Design and Planning Cycle a. Develop an exercise design plan consistent with FEMA’s Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program standards. b. Conduct a planning cycle (meetings, briefings, and coordination sessions) with San Bernardino County OES and relevant stakeholders. c. Prepare all exercise documentation, including objectives, scenario narratives, injects, master scenario event list, and evaluation guides
