Coast Guard to Evaluate Unmanned Surface Vehicle for Maritime Domain Awareness
At the behest of Congress, the Coast Guard Research and Development Center next summer plans to conduct a one-month evaluation of at least one commercially-available, autonomous unmanned surface vehicle (USV) system in the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii to enhance maritime domain awareness. For the pilot, the Coast Guard seeks USVs with sensors that can alert to illegal, unreported and or unregulated fishing activity. The Coast Guard also wants the USV systems to be low cost and have minimal logistics footprint. “Department of Homeland Security entities, including the Coast Guard (CG) have limited surface and aerial assets to cover 12.2 million square miles of maritime territory in the Pacific Ocean, so with limited resources the CG needs to use intelligence and technology to ensure they are using the assets the most efficient way possible,” the Coast Guard says in a Nov. 7 solicitation. The RD is working with Global Fish Watch (GFW), which uses technology to visualize, track and share data about global fishing activity in near-real time. The service says for the pilot to be successful data such as ship detection must be shared with GFW. The evaluation will take place in an approximately 20 square mile area 30 miles south of Oahu. Sol. No. 70Z02319RPE6R0100. Contact: Alan Boucher, contract specialist, [email protected]
, 860-701-6215.
DHS Seeks Tech to Make it Easier to Provide, Authenticate Documents for REAL ID
The Department of Homeland Security has issued a Request for Information seeking technologies that could help states and their residents electronically submit, receive and authenticate documents and information that applicants must provide when applying for a REAL ID compliant driver’s license or identification card. “We are interested in concepts that reduce application burden, processing time, and administrative workload, and that effectively ensure security, protect privacy, and manage risk of fraud,” the Nov. 1 RFI says. DHS is also interested in capabilities and technologies that will increase the adoption rate of people obtaining REAL ID compliant identity credentials. Respond by Dec. 9. Contact: Steve Yonkers, director, Identity and Credentialing/REAL ID Program, 202-447-3274.
TSA Innovation Task Force Issues Targeted BAA
The Transportation Security Administration Innovation Task Force (ITF) has issued a targeted Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) seeking concept papers and proposals in several aviation security problem areas, including portable screening for people and accessible property, alarm resolution for people, accessible property and checked baggage, and vendor-identified problems. The ITF will host an industry day on Dec. 6 at its headquarters in Arlington, Va., to discuss its requirements for the Innovative Demonstrations for Enterprise Advancement (IDEA) BAA. Sol. No. 70T04040K9NSTD105. Respond by Jan. 17, 2020. Contact: Aaron Lewis, contract specialist, [email protected], 571-224-2024.
DHS S&T Seeks Information on Body-Worn Cameras for First Responders
The Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate, National Urban Security Technology Laboratory has issued a Request for Information on commercially available body-worn cameras to meet the needs of emergency responders and protective services. The cameras would be used to record the interactions of first responders with the public. DHS S&T is seeking the information under its System Assessment and Validation for Emergency Responders program to help emergency responders nationwide make procurement decisions. Respond by Nov. 29. Contact: Sharon Flowers, contracting officer, [email protected], 202-447-5736.