*Boeing [BA] received a $20 million contract from Customs and Border Protection to conduct technology design and deployment for the SBInet Northern Border Project. Under the one-year contract, which concludes March 30, 2010, Boeing will provide 11 Remote Video Surveillance Systems in the Detroit, Mich., Border Patrol Sector and five systems in the Buffalo, N.Y., sector for a proof-of-concept to determine how well the technology performs in the those environments. The RVSS are in use in the Southwest border of the U.S. The deployment will “provide lessons learned to enable CBP to design better-tailored, longer-term technology options for the Northern Border,” says Mark Borkowski, SBI executive director.
*The Department of Homeland Security, in its response to continued drug-related violence in Mexico and spillover into the U.S., is redeploying some screening technology and related assets to the Southwest border to help stem the flow of guns and money leaving the U.S. for Mexico. DHS is now using non-intrusive imaging systems at the eight outbound rail crossings into Mexico versus no prior use of X-Ray systems for southbound rail. DHS is immediately redeploying nine American Science and Engineering [ASEI]-built Z Backscatter Vans to southbound passenger vehicle crossing points to screen for anomalies. Also, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano tells a Senate panel that under the Merida Initiative DHS’ “largest” role will be to “aid Mexican authorities in adopting non-intrusive inspection equipment” to screen for illegal substances and goods.
*The DHS US-VISIT program office has decided for the time being not to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a biometric land exit solution. Last spring the agency initiated a market survey for a biometric land exit solution and suggested that it might issue an RFP as early as Jan. 2009.
Northrop Grumman [NOC] received a $1 million contract from Air Force Research Lab-Rome under the program title Polymorphic Cyber Defense-Active Repositioning in Cyberspace.