The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate has issued a Joint Requirements Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for topics related to detection of Person-Borne and Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIEDs). The primary goals of the effort are: to develop and demonstrate advanced technologies that dramatically increase the figures of merit associated with detecting explosive threats within vehicles and on people; and to develop a more basic understanding of the IED threat and potential countermeasures thereof (this includes a focus on a more thorough understanding of fundamental chemistry and physics, as applied to explosives and related countermeasures). The topic areas of the BAA are aligned in two categories, Transition (operational test and evaluation, followed by transition to a DHS stakeholder occurs within three to five years) and Basic Research. The topic areas under Transition are VBIED Device Detection, VBIED Bulk Explosives Detection and VBIED Explosive Residue Detection. Under Basic Research the topic areas are Ammonium Nitrate and Urea Nitrate Analysis Techniques, Standoff-Based Threat Signature Enhancement and Multi-spectral Imaging and Detection Methodologies. Sol. No. BAA09-04. Respond by Nov. 5. Contact: Albert Dainton, contracting officer, 202-254-6371, [email protected].