Open-circuit self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBAs) are a critical element in firefighter personal protective equipment and a significant financial investment for fire departments across the country. A variety of technological advances in SCBAs offer the potential to improve the safety, communication, situational awareness, and mission effectiveness of fire response teams. In 2022 and 2023, the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) evaluated several SCBA systems for potential replacement of its inventory of approximately 10,000 SCBAs nearing end of life. FDNY conducted phased operational testing of the SCBA models under consideration and asked the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) for assistance in analyzing other capabilities including new electronic safety features that transmit information between SCBA and incident command. This report offers key insights and observations stemming from FDNY’s and NUSTL’s efforts, as well as guidance for a generalized assessment approach that other departments may find useful when determining their key requirements and evaluating products pending an SCBA acquisition.