The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate has awarded the non-profit firms Analytic Services, Inc. (ANSER) and MITRE Corp. to establish and run two new Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) to deepen the department’s research capabilities. Both contracts have a base-year and four one-year options with MITRE’s potentially worth $443 million and ANSER’s $269 million. The Homeland Security Studies and Analysis Institute (HSSAI), to be run by ANSER, will replace the current Homeland Security Institute that this is managed by ANSER. HSSAI’s focus is on mission-oriented analysis and expertise focusing on program objectives, system requirements and metrics. The Homeland Security Systems Engineering and Development Institute (HSSEDI), to be managed by MITRE, is brand new and will focus on how to put together performance requirements and pricing principles, Ervin Kapos, the executive agent for DHS’ FFRDCs tells TR2. HSSEDI will provide advice on concept evolution, development integration, best practices in life-cycle systems engineering and management, and program-level technical integration expertise across the enterprise. FFRDCs give GHS an independent viewpoint on various programs and initiatives and also provide the department with additional “brain power,” Kapos says.