The Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency is the domestic equivalent of the defence agency DARPA.

Projects: -Weapons designed to fire “electric bullets” into crowds are being developed for police and border protection agencies in the US. http://www.newscientisttech.com/channel/tech/weapons/mg18725126.300

-Emerging Counter-MANPADS Technologies Assessment Commercial aircraft are subject to the threat of attack by man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS). The Counter-MANPADS System Program Office (SPO) within the Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security is currently demonstrating one of the most mature technologies to defeat MANPADS using an onboard laser-based directed infrared countermeasure (DIRCM) system. While that -demonstration program is proceeding well, the Congress has funded DHS to assess alternative approaches employing emerging technologies that may have the potential for defeating MANPADS in a layered defense environment. http://www.hsarpabaa.com/manpads/

-Prototypes and Technology for Improvised Explosives Device Detection The Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA) invests in programs offering the potential for revolutionary changes in technologies that promote homeland security and accelerate the prototyping and deployment of technologies that reduce homeland vulnerabilities. HSARPA performs these functions in part by awarding procurement contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or other transactions for research or prototypes to public or private entities, businesses, federally funded research and development centers and universities. http://www.hsarpabaa.com/main/BAA0503_solicitation_notice.htm

-Bioinformatics and Assays Development Program 2(BIAD2) The Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA) invests in programs offering the potential for revolutionary changes in technologies that promote homeland security and accelerate the prototyping and deployment of technologies that reduce homeland vulnerabilities. HSARPA is the external funding arm for the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T). HSARPA has a unique capability to perform these functions in part by awarding procurement contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, or other transactions for research or prototypes to public or private entities, businesses, federally funded research and development centers and universities. http://www.hsarpabaa.com/main/BAA0601_solicitation_notice.htm

-Detection Systems for Biological and Chemical Countermeasures The goal of the HSARPA Detection Systems for Biological and Chemical Countermeasures (DSBCC) Program is to develop, field-test, and transition to commercialization the next-generation of biological and chemical detectors required to effectively counter potential biological and chemical attacks on the homeland. http://www.hsarpabaa.com/main/RA0301.htm

-Radiological and Nuclear Countermeasure System Architectures Analysis A critical area of focus for HSARPA is the development of radiological and nuclear countermeasure systems that improve the US capability to address the threat of terrorist use of a radiological dispersal device (RDD), improvised nuclear device (IND) or nuclear weapons in the US through a comprehensive systems approach that emphasizes early detection and effective intervention capabilities at the Federal, state and local levels as well as post-event capabilities for remediation. The RNCSAA BAA solicits an architecture study team to evaluate radiological and nuclear countermeasures. The RNCSAA study will evaluate the currently deployed countermeasure architecture, extensions in scale and scope of the current architecture, and future architectures either defined by the government or developed by the study team. http://www.hsarpabaa.com/main/BAA0401_solicitation_notice.htm

-Bioinformatics and Assays Development Program A critical area of focus for DHS is the protection of the homeland from the release of a biological agent as demonstrated by systems such as the currently deployed BioWatch surveillance system. Under solicitation RA03-01, HSARPA has recently initiated a program to develop new sensor technologies to significantly enhance the BioWatch system while simultaneously reducing its cost of operation (see www.hsarpabaa.com for details about this past solicitation). As a complement to the technology program initiated under RA03-01, HSARPA is initiating the Bioinformatics and Assays Development (BIAD) program to extend the existing family of detection and forensics assays as well as to develop next generation assays and new tools for assay development. The BIAD program will facilitate a number of HSARPA’s goals, including:

Enabling future enhancements to existing detection systems; Enabling new types of detection systems; Supplementing our current family of confirmatory assays; Supplementing our current family of forensic assays; Creating next generation assays which are robust against novel and engineered threats; Creating new bioinformatics tools; Characterizing and increasing sample extraction efficiencies. http://www.hsarpabaa.com/main/BAA0403_solicitation_notice.htm

-Automated Scene Understanding This BAA addresses a general class of problem that is becoming more acute as the nation deploys sensors and security networks in response to the global war on terrorism. Multiple governmental organizations are deploying sensors, such as closed circuit television (CCTV), specialized video and infrared cameras, radars, and other sensors to provide physical security and general awareness at critical infrastructure, transportation hubs, borders and border entry points and our ports and harbors. In parallel, private industry, more acutely aware of the threats to physical security, is installing large numbers of security networks, many based on CCTV systems, at buildings, industrial sites and other key locations. With the introduction of these sensors, the volume of data (in terms of video screens, alarms, tracks, etc.) is far outstripping the number of operators available to monitor the data. In addition, combinations of different types of sensors, such as CCTV, thermal imaging, beacons, and radars are also appearing at such locations. Today, the fusion of data and information from these different modalities must be done by the operator, further expanding his or her workload, and increasing the chances of the systems being ignored or being ineffective. The problem will get dramatically worse in the coming years as governmental agencies and industries continue to invest in security monitoring sensors through the wide application of various security grants. http://www.hsarpabaa.com/main/BAA0405_solicitation_notice.htm

-Automated Scene Understanding This BAA addresses a general class of problem that is becoming more acute as the nation deploys sensors and security networks in response to the global war on terrorism. Multiple governmental organizations are deploying sensors, such as closed circuit television (CCTV), specialized video and infrared cameras, radars, and other sensors to provide physical security and general awareness at critical infrastructure, transportation hubs, borders and border entry points and our ports and harbors. In parallel, private industry, more acutely aware of the threats to physical security, is installing large numbers of security networks, many based on CCTV systems, at buildings, industrial sites and other key locations. With the introduction of these sensors, the volume of data (in terms of video screens, alarms, tracks, etc.) is far outstripping the number of operators available to monitor the data. In addition, combinations of different types of sensors, such as CCTV, thermal imaging, beacons, and radars are also appearing at such locations. Today, the fusion of data and information from these different modalities must be done by the operator, further expanding his or her workload, and increasing the chances of the systems being ignored or being ineffective. The problem will get dramatically worse in the coming years as governmental agencies and industries continue to invest in security monitoring sensors through the wide application of various security grants. http://www.hsarpabaa.com/main/BAA0406_solicitation_notice.htm

-Advanced Container Security Device The objective of the HSARPA Advanced Container Security Device Program is to provide the next generation of maritime shipping container security device with multiple sensing modalities, “smart” condition monitoring, automated alerting, and advanced communications. This effort is intended to supplement those by taking a slightly longer design period to look ahead at the next generation of “smart” containers. Primary emphasis is on assuring the physical security of the container including the breaching of the container through the sides and status of any seals or locks. Secondary emphasis is on detection of certain prohibited cargoes, internal ambient conditions, manipulation or change of state of the contents, and the recording of a “smart” history of the container interactions. The device must survive the rigors of intermodal transportation, especially the marine environment. http://www.hsarpabaa.com/main/BAA0406_solicitation_notice.htm

-Innovative Architectures for Unified Incident Command and Decision Support (UICDS) The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) seeks proposals for an innovative information management and sharing architecture that answers the growing needs of the emergency responder community. This solicitation seeks to confront the technical challenges associated with the development of such an innovative, modular, scaleable, and secure information management architecture. A system based on this architecture should allow incident commanders to capture important incident-related information, analyze captured information, more effectively disseminate mission critical information to emergency responders, present decision guidance options for incident commanders, more finely coordinate the efforts of emergency responders, and store relevant information for future study. The overarching benefit of such a system should be a highly enhanced situational awareness for individual emergency responders and emergency responder teams that contribute to the overall success of a mission. http://www.hsarpabaa.com/main/BAA0414_solicitation_notice.htm

-Instantaneous Bio-Aerosol Detector Systems (IBADS) A critical area of focus for DHS is the protection of the homeland from the release of a biological agent as demonstrated by the currently deployed BioWatch surveillance system. In FY04 HSARPA initiated two critical bio-sensor development initiatives under the Detection Systems for Biological and Chemical Countermeasures (DSBCC) Program, RA03-01. The Bioagent Autonomous Networked Detectors (BAND) and the Rapid Automated Biological Identification System (RABIS) initiated under RA03-01 will provide a cost effective, robust capability for continuous monitoring for a broad range of potential bio-aerosol threats with very high sensitivity and specificity. As a complement to the technology programs initiated under RA03-01, HSARPA is initiating the Instantaneous Bio-Aerosol Detector Systems (IBADS) program which seeks to develop, test and transition the next generation of rapid bio-aerosol sensors for use in Detect-to-Protect system architectures. The IBADS program will develop optimized sensor systems characterized by the following metrics (see Appendix G for definitions): Improved Sensitivity (Level of Detection) Low Probability of False Positive (Pfp) High Probability of Detection (Pd) Rapid Response Time Low Cost of Ownership http://www.hsarpabaa.com/main/BAA0418_solicitation_notice.htm

-Detection Systems for Radiological and Nuclear Countermeasure (DSRNC) A critical area of focus for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the development of radiological and nuclear countermeasure systems that improve our capability to address the threat of a radiological dispersal device (RDD), an improvised nuclear device (IND), or a nuclear weapon being used by terrorists within the US. DHS is implementing a comprehensive systems approach that emphasizes early detection and effective intervention capabilities at the Federal, state, and local levels, as well as post-event capabilities for remediation. Under the Detector Systems for Radiological and Nuclear Countermeasures (DSRNC) program Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), HSARPA solicits detector systems that will contribute to an overall system of countermeasures. http://www.hsarpabaa.com/main/BAA0402_solicitation_notice.htm

-Cyber Security Research and Development (CSRD) A critical area of focus for the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T) is the development and deployment of technologies to protect the nation’s cyber infrastructure including the Internet and other critical infrastructures that depend on computer systems for their mission. The goals of the DHS HSARPA CSRD program are to: Perform the underlying research and development (R&D) to improve existing deployed technologies and to ensure the security of new emerging systems; Develop new and enhanced technologies for the detection of, prevention of, and response to cyber attacks on the nation’s infrastructure; Transfer these technologies into the national infrastructure as a matter of urgency; http://www.hsarpabaa.com/main/BAA0417_solicitation_notice.htm

-Low Vapor Pressure Chemicals Detection Systems (LVPCDS) Program The goal of the HSARPA Low Vapor Pressure Chemicals Detection Systems (LVPCDS) Program is to develop, field-test, and transition to commercialization existing, state-of-the-art and next generation systems that can detect toxic compounds having low vapor pressures (= 10-4 Torr) without coming in contact with the contaminated surface. The DHS S&T Directorate has identified two high priority requirements as Technical Topic Areas (TTAs) to be addressed in this solicitation (These TTAs are described in greater detail in Section 4, “LVPCDS Program Goals”): The LVPCDS Program will facilitate a number of DHS goals, including: Enabling novel and cost effective enhancements to existing detection systems for rapid deployment; Development of next generation detection systems providing superior performance, ease of operation, and cost; and Development of revolutionary technologies, subsystems or components with significant impact on cost and/or performance of existing or next generation detection systems. http://www.hsarpabaa.com/main/BAA0410_solicitation_notice.htm

-Innovative New Materials for Personal Protective Equipment This Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) addresses a need that is becoming more serious as the nation’s emergency responder community prepares to combat the results of future terrorist attacks – highly innovative/revolutionary protective materials and materials systems that can be used by emergency responders and Homeland Security Operations professionals in multi-hazard environments. Many of the requirements presented in Section 3 have been derived from Project Responder1. The R&D efforts, however, are not limited to the basic guidelines provided in Project Responder2. As we continue to assess operations resulting from terrorist or other mass destruction/mass casualty incidents, other national level guidelines will apply. Cross referencing applicable requirement and concept of operations documentation is encouraged and will be assessed as part of the proposal evaluation process. This is a dynamic environment with rapidly changing and emerging requirements. It is incumbent upon all participants in this R&D process to ensure that the collective R&D initiatives are responsive to improving protection against traditional and emerging hazards, and are applicable to a wide range of Emergency Responder (ER) and Homeland Security Operations (HLS Ops) professionals. http://www.hsarpabaa.com/main/BAA0501_solicitation_notice.htm

-Advanced Spectroscopic Portal Monitors A critical area of focus for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the development of Advanced Spectroscopic Portal (ASP) Monitors that improve our capability to address the threat of a Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD), an Improvised Nuclear Device (IND), or a nuclear weapon being used by terrorists within the US. DHS is implementing a comprehensive systems approach that emphasizes early detection and effective intervention capabilities at the Federal, state, and local levels, as well as post-event capabilities for remediation. Under this Advanced Spectroscopic Portal (ASP) Monitor Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), HSARPA solicits portal detection systems that will contribute to an overall system of countermeasures. http://www.hsarpabaa.com/main/BAA0504_solicitation_notice.htm

-Food Biological Agent Detection Sensor (FBADS) HSARPA seeks to develop, test, and commercialize a new set of laboratory-based or portable detection methods for use on the food supply system. Food detection systems will require rapid, high-confidence detection of microbial and toxin threats in order to enable advanced strategies to protect individuals from exposure and reduce contamination of critical food supply infrastructure.

HSARPA intends to initiate the Food Biological Agent Detection Sensor (FBADS) Program, which seeks to develop, test, and transition cost-effective detection methods for use on the food system, with a focus on liquid substrates. Specifically, HSARPA is looking for portable or laboratory-based detection methods that can be used at food manufacturing facilities, or before the food enters a processing or production facility. The FBADS Program will develop optimized detection systems characterized by the following capabilities:

Low Limit of Detection; Extremely low probability of false positive (Pfp); Low probability of false negatives (Pfn); Automated operation, easily used by non-technical personnel; Rapid analysis time; and Low total cost of ownership

The FBADS initiative responds to Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD)-9, “Defense of United States Agriculture and Food”, January 30, 2004. We anticipate that the detection systems developed under this FBADS Program will provide DHS with a capability to prevent any wide-spread harm to our nation’s critical food infrastructure. http://www.hsarpabaa.com/main/BAA0506_solicitation_notice.htm

-Low-Cost Bio-Aerosol Detector Systems (LBADS) A critical area of focus for DHS is the protection of the homeland from the release of a biological agent, as demonstrated by the currently deployed BioWatch surveillance system. In FY04, HSARPA initiated two critical bio-sensor development initiatives under the Detection Systems for Biological and Chemical Countermeasures (DSBCC) Program, RA03-01. These systems, the Bioagent Autonomous Networked Detectors (BAND) and the Rapid Automated Biological Identification System (RABIS), will provide a cost effective, robust capability for continuous monitoring for a broad range of potential bio-aerosol threats with very high sensitivity and specificity. As a complement to the technology programs initiated under RA03-01, HSARPA also initiated the BAA04-18 Instantaneous Bio-Aerosol Detector Systems (IBADS) program to develop, test and transition the next generation of rapid bio-aerosol sensors for use in Detect-to-Protect system architectures. http://www.hsarpabaa.com/main/BAA0508_solicitation_notice.htm

-Rapid Technology Application Program (RTAP) In this solicitation HSARPA is soliciting white papers and proposals for the rapid prototyping of systems in the following seven specific technical fields: Explosive Countermeasures, Biological Countermeasures, Chemical Countermeasures, Information Technology – Geospatial, Information Technology – Information Sharing, Electronics and Hardware, and Cyber Security. The 22 Topics identified for these specific technical fields are listed below. http://www.hsarpabaa.com/main/SolicitationNotice.asp?BAAID=17

-Simulation-Based Training and Exercise for Incident Management The purpose of this RFI is to identify operational systems that could be immediately deployed in a simulation-based training prototype and new, innovative technologies that could significantly enhance early prototypes and be integrated into future developed systems. (An early prototype would be utilized as part of a capabilities-based needs assessment that will determine the overall operational and functional requirements for NIMS training, identify capability and technology gaps, and, ultimately provide the technology objectives to be achieved through the DHS research, development, test and evaluation program.) Ultimately, any system or technology deployed must function in an open architecture environment and be capable of scaling from a local training and exercise environment to a national exercise similar to the TOPOFF exercises. http://www.hsarpabaa.com/main/RFI-05-05.htm

-CONTAINER SECURITY DEVICE The goal of this RFI is to identify currently available intermodal shipping container security devices (CSD’s). The primary emphasis is on assuring the physical security of the container specifically directed at the opening, closing, or removal of the container doors. Secondary emphasis is on detection of the container location, the status of any seals or locks, and the recording of container interactions. The device must survive the rigors of intermodal transport, especially the marine environment. http://www.hsarpabaa.com/main/CSD-RFI.htm

-Maritime Airborne Surveillance RADAR A priority mission of the U. S. Coast Guard is homeland security; preventing terrorists and terrorist weapons, including potential weapons of mass destruction, from entering the United States. DHS S&T has developed a set of maritime surveillance requirements that, if satisfied, will greatly aid in performing this mission. Pursuant to accomplishing this goal, DHS S&T is currently conducting a study to identify candidate platform and radar sensor technologies that together comprise a cost effective solution to persistent wide area maritime surveillance capable of detecting, tracking and discriminating surface vessels 25 feet and larger from 12 to 120 NM offshore. This study effort is a precursor to a possible follow on effort to conduct an integrated research, development, test and evaluation program that demonstrates a persistent, wide-area surveillance (WAS) radar capability to the U.S. Coast Guard. http://www.hsarpabaa.com/main/RFI-Radar.htm

-New Standard VHS Videocasette Recorders (VCR) for Forensic Video Requirements The commercial market for video recorders is moving to newer digital technology. However, in security applications low cost VHS recorders are still very common and will remain so as long as they are serviceable. This results in many VHS recordings that continue to be analyzed by forensic labs to recover images relevant to criminal investigations. Unfortunately, manufacturers are no longer making the higher quality players that are used in forensic labs to recover these recordings. Labs desire to replace their heavily used equipment, but are becoming less and less successful finding suitable replacements and are thus operating with lower quality equipment. What is needed is a high quality, robust video cassette player that will reliably playback the low quality, overused recordings on low-cost tape produced by poorly maintained VCRs that are so typically received from the average security system at a crime scene. http://www.hsarpabaa.com/main/RFI-VHS.htm

-Single Pricing Structure for Global Connectivity to Cellular Data Services To Support Marine Asset Tag Tracking System (MATTS) Communications The Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA) of the Department of Homeland Security, Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T) issues this Request for Information (RFI) regarding a scalable pricing structure of cellular data services with highly reliable global connectivity for the Marine Asset Tag Tracking System (MATTS – H-SB04.1-005) devices. MATTS is a multi-modal communication gateway for Advance Container Security Devices (ACSD – HSARPA BAA 04-06), capable of providing global remote communications and tracking information for a container and is applicable to in-bond shipments. As applied to this operational concept, utilizing cellular services, while technically feasible, is not economically practical worldwide due to the current pricing structures, account administration, and roaming agreements employed by cellular service providers. Innovative and alternate strategies in these areas are sought. http://www.hsarpabaa.com/main/RFI-GCCDS.htm