TSA Readies Next Round of Checkpoint CT Competition
Competitors for the Transportation Security Administration’s checkpoint property screening system (CPSS) effort have until Dec. 31 to get their systems certified to the Accessible Property Screening System (APSS) detection standards under the window for the current qualified products list. The CPSS effort is essentially the checkpoint computed tomography (CT) program in which Smiths Detection won round one. Applicants that successfully pass the certification process will have until Jan. 23, 2020, to install their system in the agency’s Transportation Security Integration Facility for testing and in airports for field testing. Field testing is slated to conclude by Feb. 25 and if field testing is successful, vendors will proceed to initial operational test and evaluation, which is expected to end by June 12.
Air Force Plans Counter-sUAS Solicitation; Potential $490M Orders
The Air Force Research Laboratory has issued a pre-solicitation notice to meet a requirement for a flexible, rapid, agile contracting vehicle between it, its product centers, and the operational community to support rapid research, development, prototyping, demonstration, evaluation, and transition of Counter small Unmanned Aircraft System (C-sUAS) capabilities. The service wants the capabilities to combat commercial off-the-shelf small UAS and others leveraging COTS technology currently being used by adversaries in asymmetric warfare against U.S. military personnel and materiel. The Air Force expects a single award indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity research and development contract, an ordering period over six years, and a maximum value of $490 million. A draft request for proposal is expected in the first quarter of 2020. AFRL will host an industry day on Dec. 16 in Rome, N.Y. Notice ID: FA875020R1000. Contact: Donna Toole, C-sUAS acquisition program manager, [email protected], 315-330-3972.
National Science Foundation Plans Cyberinfrastructure Centers of Excellence
The National Science Foundation plans to make awards for Cyberinfrastructure Centers of Excellence by supporting hubs of expertise and innovation targeting specific areas or stakeholders of the research cyberinfrastructure (CI) ecosystem. The NSF say “The complex and rapidly evolving S&E (science and engineering) landscape requires an agile, integrated, robust, trustworthy, and sustainable CI ecosystem that will drive new thinking and transformative discoveries in all areas of research and education.” In an opportunity notice, the NSF says CI resources and services must be designed to leverage and drive innovations, and they must be user-centric and interoperable to enable the efficient, flexible end-to-end discovery pathways that are increasingly essential for the conduct of research. The notice also says the information, expertise, and service needed to maximally utilize the CI ecosystem must be disseminated broadly to the research community. The NSF says that CI CoEs are a means of concentrating resources on a specific area of identified need in support of the broader goal of advancing capabilities and performance of the national CI ecosystem. Contact: William Miller, [email protected], 703-292-7886.
DHS Issues Pre-Solicitation for FY ’20 SBIR Program
The Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction have issued a pre-solicitation for the fiscal year 2020 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. The solicitation is expected to be released on Dec. 18. S&T’s research topics include Next Generation 9-1-1 multimedia content analysis engine capability for the emergency communications cyber security center, remote sensor data protection and anti-spoofing, digital paging over public television, soft targets and crowded places security, in-building coverage analysis system using existing first responder’s radio and smartphone, handheld advanced detection/imaging technology system, enhanced explosive and illicit drugs detection by targeted interrogation of surfaces, urban canyon detection tracking and identification of small unmanned aerial vehicles; and machine learning module for detection technologies. The CWMD Office topics include innovative technologies for next generation of sample collection media, and development and evaluation of nucleic acid-based assays to accelerate biohazard detection. Respond by Dec. 17. Contact: Shelby Buford, contracting officer, [email protected], 202-254-5781.
DHS Plans Technology Refresh of Identity and Credential Management System
The Department of Homeland Security has issued a Request for Information for a technology refresh project for an integrated identity management system and credential management system, enrollment-issuance workstations and light activation stations. The DHS Office of the Chief Security Officer, Enterprise Security Services Division’s current support contract expires in Feb. 2024. The current vendor provides end-to-end capabilities for an integrated identity and credential management system. The new technology refresh project is to ensure that the identity management enterprise support services continue without interruption when the current contract ends. The forthcoming procurement is a partial small business set aside. Sol. No. DHSHSPD12IDMSTRP. Contact: Jessica Phillips, [email protected], 202-447-5563.
DHS S&T CIO to Host Industry Day for IT Support Services
The Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate, Office of the Chief Information Officer, has issued a Request for Information will host an Industry day on Dec. 9 in Washington, D.C. on plans to acquire professional technical support services. S&T’s information technology support will include systems engineering for network and cloud, information assurance, security operations center engineers and analysis, IT governance, collaborative solutions and IT operations and maintenance. Responses to the RFI are due Dec. 17. Respond by Dec. 3. Contact: Melanie. [email protected].
DHS HR Office Plans Industry Day for Cyber Security-Focused Personnel System
The Department of Homeland Security Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer Cybersecurity Statutory Authority Program will host an Industry Day on Dec. 9 seeking input and feedback on program objectives for various aspects of implementation and operation of is new cyber security-focused personnel system, the Cybersecurity Talent Management System (CTMS). New authority given to DHS allows for a variety of talent management changes, including alternative methods for defining jobs, conducting hiring, and compensating employees. In completing the design for CTMS and preparing for launch, DHS is pursuing new methods for describing work, identifying and encouraging applicants, considering time and professional experience, evaluating applicants and employees, and managing career progression. The department is exploring innovative, agile, and strategic approaches to the implementation and operation of this system to quickly address cyber security staffing requirements. Respond by Dec. 3. Contact: Daniel Weingarten, [email protected].