DNDO Issues RFI for Trans-Shipment Rad Detection Equipment and Operations

The Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) related to trans-shipment and direct-to-rail radiation detection equipment. The agency wants information on technologies and concepts for the development and eventual deployment of gamma and neutron detection devices and systems for those shipping containers involved in ship/dock-to-rail transfers where semi-trailer trucks are not used. Responders must offer solutions containing both gamma and neutron detection capability. No responders should offer a system using Helium-3 based neutron detectors. DNDO is interested in system and sub-system designs and technologies that exist day that meet minimum Technology Readiness Level 6 and could be employed at an operating seaport of entry to scan shipping containers within one to two years. Sol. No. DNDORFI03OCT2011. Respond by Oct. 17. Contact: William Fuller, [email protected].

DNDO Seeks Info on Neutron Detectors That Don’t Used He-3

Facing a shortage of a critical gas used in radiation detection equipment, the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) has issued a Request for Information on neutron radiation detectors that do not use Helium-3 technology. DNDO wants to determine the feasibility of using commercial-off-the-shelf that will be released into the commercial sector in the near future, with alternative neutron radiation detectors to accurately and rapidly detect threat material such as nuclear weapons, improvised nuclear devices, special nuclear material, as well as the identification of non-threatening neutron emitting material such as moisture density gauges used in road construction. The agency also seeks information about non-He-3 detector technologies that can be integrated into backpack, handheld and city vehicle mounted form factors as part of a near-term test campaign. Sol. No. DNDORFI05OCT2011. Respond by Dec. 9. Contact: William Fuller, [email protected].

Coast Guard Seeks SETA Support for R&D Center

The Coast Guard has issued a Request for Information (RFI) as part of a market research effort to assess industry’s capabilities for executing a contract for Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) in support of the Coast Guard Research and Development (R&D) Center. The five-year, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract is expected to be valued around $45 million. Tasking at the center typically involves complex analyses that require multidisciplinary technical integration of expertise in a number of functional areas such as requirements, alternatives, cost analysis, systems engineering and planning, human systems integration, environmental impact and safety assessments, logistics, test and evaluation and acquisition strategy. Sol. No. HSCG32-12-I-R00002. Respond by Oct. 20. Contact: Helen Nelson, [email protected], 860-271-2843.

DNDO Issues RFI for Advanced Handheld Rad Detection and ID Systems

The Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to determine the availability of an advanced handheld radiation detection and identification system that meets approved functional requirements such as an operating life of five years, a mean-time between failures greater than 8,760 hours, a false positive alarm rate of less than 0.1 percent, and more. Sol. No. DNDORFI092711. Respond by Oct. 12. Contact: William Fuller, [email protected].

CBP Seeks O&M Support for Predator UAS

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a Request for Information to conduct market research to determine potential sources that have the capabilities to provide contractor maintenance and repair services for the agency’s MQ-9 Predator Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) that is built by General Atomics. CBP operates the Predator B and Guardian maritime variant of Predator. The agency so far has purchased seven Predators and associated ground stations and support equipment. Three additional Predators are on order. Sol. No. 2012RFIUASOPS. Respond by Oct. 12. Contact: Brenda Mealer, contract specialist, [email protected].

DoD Introduces Forensic R&D Program

The Defense Department has established a forensic research and development (R&D) program under the guidance of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. Proposals are sought that help the Defense Forensic Enterprise provide forensic science analysis linking persons, places, things and events. The Army is the DoD Executive Agent for Forensics for those disciplines relating to DNA, serology, firearms and tool marks, latent prints, questioned documents, drug chemistry, and trace materials, as well as forensics relating to medical disciplines such as forensic pathology, forensic anthropology, forensic toxicology, and DNA analysis to identify human remains. The Army is interested in proposal that help achieve its goals here, particularly proposals involving the development of equipment that is portable, sustainable, and useful in an expeditionary environment. Sol. No. W911NF-12-R-0001. Respond by Dec. 19. Contact: Maria Nelson, [email protected], 919-549-4316.

Commerce, DHS Want to Explore Industry Code for Detection of Botnets

The Departments of Commerce and Homeland Security have issued a Request for Information on the requirements of, and possible approaches to creating, a voluntary industry code of conduct to address the detection, notification and mitigation of botnets. Commerce recently issued a “Green Paper” that suggests that voluntary codes of conduct developed through a multi-stakeholder process can significantly advance efforts to protect the Internet from the growing security threats. Contact: Jon Boyens, NIST, [email protected]