*American Science and Engineering [ASEI] has received a potential $14 million contract from the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate under the CanScan Program to design and build an active interrogation, non-intrusive inspection system for air cargo. The first phase of the contract is funded at $2.2 million. Under CanScan, AS&E and its teammate Bubble Technology Industries, will develop a system that can automatically detect and identify a wide variety of threat materials, including explosives, drugs, currency and weapons located in concealed shipments such as containers. “Material discrimination could be an important breakthrough for AS&E’s cargo inspection offerings,” says Anthony Fabiano, president and CEO of AS&E. S&T initiated CanScan two years ago in response to improved camouflaging and masking efforts by “bad guys” of illicit materials being introduced into the U.S. via cargo conveyances (TR2, Jan. 6, 2010, June 24, 2009).
*The Transportation Security Administration has awarded a $5.6 million contract to C2 Solutions Group, Inc., for financial accounting, reporting and audit support services. C2 Solutions is a service-disabled, veteran-owned information technology professional services firm based in Northern Virginia.
*The Department of Homeland Security and World Customs Organization have partnered to strengthen global supply chain security. Three areas highlighted for improved cooperation with foreign countries and groups include preventing terrorist attacks through the use of the supply chain to transport potentially dangerous materials, identifying and protecting the most critical elements of the supply chain, such as transportation hubs, and strengthening resiliency.