A new report by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) identifies a number of technological capability gaps across five categories of interagency research and development (R&D) teams that were resurrected a year ago to ensure that technology efforts within the department are meeting the needs of its customers and avoiding unnecessary duplication, a new report says.
The DHS report also says that the Integrated Product Teams (IPT) stood up last August after not being used for years and the processes the teams are using are “both repeatable and flexible and provides a strong foundation for future evolution of the process.”
The IPT process is overseen by the DHS Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate and teams exist in five categories: Aviation Security; Biological Threat; Border Security; Counterterrorism; and Cybersecurity. The teams are each led by one or two department components and consist of multiple components depending on the requirements in each category.
The IPT teams have prioritized technology capability gaps within their respective mission areas. The high priority gaps in four of the categories are:
· Aviation Security:
Ø Capability to accurately identify and screen checked baggage based on the owners Passenger clearance ranking;
Ø Capability to verify a passenger’s identification;
Ø Enhanced ability to conduct primary screening of passengers in aviation security screening checkpoints (currently performed by advanced imaging technology and walk-through metal detectors) that provides the ability to distinguish threats from non-threats that are placed on the body;
Ø Enhanced risk-based screening algorithms development for security technology to support operator and associated policy decisions;
Ø Improved capability to allow operators to screen passengers’ carry-on and checked bags for prohibited items to protect against sophisticated IED attacks (various explosive types); and
Ø Improved screening methods against attacks using cargo IED, one or more, when in flight (various explosive types);
· Biological Threat:
Ø Compact personal protective equipment (PPE); emergency/escape hood;
Ø Decision support for operational decision making, including PPE use;
Ø Means for field agents to detect, identify and classify the presence of biological agents;
Ø Data assimilation and predictive analysis to inform decision making in the field and operations centers; and
Ø Advances to allow for better timeliness to verify a biological attack;
· Border Security:
Ø Biometric entry (counting and measuring);
Ø Improve performance of non-intrusive inspection detectors and/or sources;
Ø Small dark aircraft detection and timely interdiction;
Ø Sensor and intelligence information sharing and data analytics;
Ø Land/in-between ports of entry situational awareness;
Ø Tunnel detection, surveillance, and forensics;
Ø Maritime surveillance and communications in remote environments; and
Ø Small dark vessel detection and timely interdiction;
· Cybersecurity:
Ø Distributed cloud-based communications and monitoring;
Ø ICS control systems, cyber sensors, analytics, and prevention capabilities;
Ø Method for forensic examiners to capture user data from networked devices (the Internet of Things); and
Ø Lack of cybersecurity effectiveness, severity, and comparative metrics.
The report, which was written by the S&T Directorate, is entitled Integrated Product Teams for Department of Homeland Security R&D. It says the results of the IPT process this year “will inform and acquisition profile aligned to the highest-priority gaps, thus providing a blueprint that will support a common appropriations structure to Congress. This will ultimately lead to full transparency of R&D activities and benchmark the necessary steps for producing a comprehensive and integrated DHS-wide acquisition program for R&D.”
The report also says that in the future the IPT process will include the ability to evaluate technological gaps and R&D “based on the extent to which they enhance resilience at a national, community, or individual asset level.”
The report says that that perhaps the most important feature of the IPT process is that it facilitates cross-Department collaboration. Executives from across DHS now have an established mechanism for coordinating and prioritizing R&D activities that will result in effective solutions for near- and longer-term mission challenges.”