Cross-departmental teams that were resurrected a year ago to ensure that research and development (R&D) efforts within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are meeting the needs of its customers and avoiding unnecessary duplication are effective, a new DHS report says.
The report says that the Integrated Product Teams stood up last August after not being used for years and the IPT process “is both repeatable and flexible and provides a strong foundation for future evolution of the process.” It adds that perhaps most important, the IPT process facilitates cross-Department collaboration. Executives from across DHS now have an established mechanism for coordinating and prioritizing R&D activities that will result in effective solutions for near- and longer-term mission challenges.”
The DHS Science and Technology Directorate last summer stood up five IPTs in preparation for FY ’16. The teams, which are led by one or two components and consist of multiple components, are collaborating in aviation security, biological threats, border security, counterterrorism, and cyber security.
The IPT teams have prioritized technology capability gaps within their respective mission areas. For example, within the aviation security mission area, there are six high-priority gaps, including the need for better risk-based screening algorithms for “security technology to support operator and associated policy decisions” and a capability to “verify a passenger’s identifications,” says the report, Integrated Product Teams for Department of Homeland Security R&D.
In the area of border security, eight gaps are listed including small dark vessel detection, small dark aircraft detection and timely interdiction, and better situational awareness between ports-of-entry.