DHS Sticks with RAND to Lead Homeland Security FFRDC
The Department of Homeland Security has selected the non-profit RAND Corp.
to continue to lead a federally-funded research and development center (FFRDC) that provides mission level technical and integration expertise to department leaders and managers. DHS this month said it plans to award RAND a potential five-year, $495 million contract for the Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center (HSOAC). DHS in 2016 awarded RAND a $494.7 million to stand up HSOAC. “HSOAC provides special analytical expertise to department program managers to transform program level analysis requirement and performance metrics, constrained by cost and schedule, into a preferred documented configuration of sustainable deliverables,” DHS says in an April 14 notice on the government’s business opportunities Sam.gov. The award in 2016 was competitive but this time around DHS did without competing the HSOAC work. DHS said that its Science and Technology Directorate conducted a comprehensive analysis of the performance of the center and an analysis of alternative sources, finding that “RAND is not underperforming, and there is no expectation of significant cost savings if a new operator is selected.”
Shine Technologies Nabs $17M DHS Award for NII Technology
The Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate has awarded SHINE Technologies a potential 42-month, $16.8 million contract to research, development and testing of an advanced prototype non-intrusive inspection (NII) system using the company’s neutron generator technology. SHINE says that its project, “Interrogation with Neutrons—Screening for Threats and Interdicting Narcotics in Cargo at High Throughput (IN-STINCT), is aimed at developing a safe, new tool to detect and identify illegal bulk narcotics and other contraband material in commercial cargo at ports of entry. If successful, the company says its system would complement current methods, tools and high-energy X-Ray screening equipment used by DHS Customs and Border Protection. Initial modeling and design for IN-STINCT will begin immediately at SHINE’s division near Fitchburg, Wis., along with data collection and testing activities for IN-STINCT’s contraband detection system in the company’s facilities in Wisconsin and at its sister company Phoenix LLC’s neutron imaging center.
DHS To Extend HSPD-12 Support Contract with XTec
The Department of Homeland Security plans to award XTec Inc. a potential eight-month contract extension for support services to the Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD)-12 identity program, giving the department time to complete a new competition for HSPD-12 products and services. The value of the pending award, which has a six-month base and two one-month options, was redacted. DHS justified continuing with XTec, which is the incumbent, because the software, hardware and replacement products for maintenance support provided under the current task order are proprietary to the company. The support services cover enrollment/issuance work stations, identity and credential management, and mobile and hardware security module servers.
Acalvio Technologies’ Platform added to DHS CDM Program
Acalvio Technologies says its FedRamp Ready ShadowPlex platform has been added to the Department of Homeland Security’s Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM) cybersecurity program approved products list, making it easier for federal agencies to purchase and deploy the technology. The ShadowPlex platform aids with detection of cyber attacks on-premises and in the cloud, disruption of attacks, and provides intelligence for forensics of tactics, techniques and procedures.