DNDO Issues RFP for Radiation Portal Monitor Replacement Program

The Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) has issued the Request for Proposal (RFP) for its Radiation Portal Monitor (RPM) Replacement Program (RP), with plans to award up to three single-award indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contracts. The contracts  will have a five year base ordering period and two five year options. The RFP says the focus of the RPM RP is the selective deployment of new RPMs to enhance mission effectiveness, gain operational efficiencies, and to address emerging mission needs. Currently, plans are to acquire and deploy about 200 RPMs between FY ’18 and FY ’20. The new RPMs will be targeted for installation at high volume ports of entry, particularly those that experience higher nuisance alarm rates than typically found at other locations. Currently, Customs and Border Protection scans 99.8 percent of the containerized cargo entering the U.S. through seaports using polyvinyl toluene gamma detectors and helium-3-based neutron detectors. These RPMs employ an energy windowing algorithm to discriminate potential special nuclear material from naturally occurring radioactive material. The remaining 0.2 percent of containerized cargo arrives at lower volume seaports and is canned using a mixture of fixed RPMs, mobile RPMs, or handheld radiation detection equipment based on risk. CBP also uses RPMs to scan 100 percent of passenger and cargo vehicles entering at land POEs. Sol. No. HSHQDN-17-R-0002. Respond by Feb. 20. Contact: Tisha Blue, contracting officer, [email protected], 202-254-6751.

DHS S&T Issues RFI for Operational Experimentation Capability

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) branch has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for an operational experimentation (OpEx) capability, which is a mechanism for generating end-user feedback and input on operational requirements and technologies at various technology readiness levels. OpEx activities place the operator in realistic, operational scenarios in which they can experiment with various technologies. The OpEx program reduces risk for technology developers and end-users by determining and refining operational requirements through experimentation activity with DHS and Homeland Security Enterprise stakeholders. DHS is interested in learning how interested parties would be able to support the proposed tasks, which include support of OpEx program management, identify OpEx strategic priorities, perform operations environment analysis, conduct simulations, conduct tabletop exercises, and conduct operational field experiments. Sol. No. RFI_RDP_P3_OP_Ex_Capability. Respond by Feb. 21. Contact:  Paul Bertovich, [email protected].

DNDO Plans Conformity Tests for Rad/Nuke Detection Instruments

The Domestic Nuclear Detection Office plans to conduct a series of Graduated Rad/Nuc Detector Evaluation and Reporting (GRaDER) program conformity tests against Technical Capability Standards and American National Standards Institute standards for various radiological and nuclear detection instruments and technologies. The tests will be funded by the DNDO standards program and the agency will select vetted vendors to participate in these tests based on prior performance in DNDO radiological and nuclear detection technology research and development, as well as test and evaluation activities. The intent of the GRaDER program is to evaluate and report the performance of commercial-off-the-shelf radiological and nuclear detection equipment against national consensus standards, as well as Technical Capability Standards adopted by the Department of Homeland Security. Respond by Jan. 31. Contact: Matthew Robertson, [email protected], 202-254-7163.

Sandia Offers Partnership for Biometric Encrypted Technology Access Control

Sandia National Laboratories is seeking potential commercial partners for further development of a general purpose sensor that interfaces with wearable biometric identification devices. Sandia says the goal is to create a commercial product that could be deployed to further biometric based security apparatus or embedded environmental technology responsive to users. Sandia wants to move the technology from Technology Readiness Level 3 to TRL 6. Sol. No. 17_470. Respond by Jan. 26. Contact: Andy Anderson, [email protected].

DHS SVO Hosts Industry Day for Financial Services Cyber Security Opportunity

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Silicon Valley Office (SVO) hosted an Industry Day on Jan. 23 in Austin, Texas, to discuss its Other Transaction Solicitation for the Financial Services Cyber Security Active Defense (FSCAD) effort. The call seeks novel ideas and technologies to improve dynamic defense and assurance for protecting financial sector critical infrastructure. The FSCAD Technologies project is comprised of three technical topic areas: Intrusion Deception; Moving Target Defense; and Isolation and Containment. Sol. No. HSHQDC-17-R-00008. Respond by Nov. 21 to the call. Contact: DHS-Silicon-Valley, [email protected].