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DHS Solicitation: Improvement of Existing Handheld Technologies for AIT Resolution
Here is a very interesting solicitation posted on FedBizOpps:
FedBizOpps: Rapid Improvement of Existing Handheld Technologies for AIT Anomaly Resolution Solicitation Number: BAA12-08 Agency: Department of Homeland Security Office: Office of the Chief Procurement Officer Location: Office of Procurement Operations Here's a cut-and-paste of the Synopsis: Synopsis: Added: Apr 18, 2012 11:39 am The Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-296) states that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science & Technology Directorate (S&T) will "support basic and applied homeland security research to promote revolutionary changes in technologies; advance the development, testing and evaluation, and deployment of critical homeland security technologies; and accelerate the prototyping and deployment of technologies that would address homeland security vulnerabilities." Pursuant to this mission, DHS S&T's Explosives Division (EXD) recognizes the need for state-of-the-art passenger screening at checkpoints that shall effectively and reliably resolve anomalies on passengers during secondary screening. TSA has deployed Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) to screen passengers at aviation checkpoints. Current resolution of anomalies presented on the AIT is limited to directed, and sometimes sensitive, area pat downs. This initiative is focused on reducing the number of passenger pat downs required to resolve AIT anomalies. This capability shall be implemented as a handheld AIT anomaly resolution tool. This BAA sets forth the requirements to accomplish a variety of specific tasks related to the rapid improvement of existing handheld technologies designed to resolve AIT anomalies by improving the sensitivity of current systems as well as expand threat detection capabilities. The identified requirements presented here have a direct impact on meeting the requirements outlined in the Aviation and Transportation Security Act of 2001, Public Law 107-71. Added: May 09, 2012 4:45 pm The attached document provides questions and answers submitted concerning the White Paper submission. |
Originally Posted by RatherBeOnATrain
(Post 18624916)
Here is a very interesting solicitation posted on FedBizOpps:
FedBizOpps: Rapid Improvement of Existing Handheld Technologies for AIT Anomaly Resolution Here's a cut-and-paste of the Synopsis: .....Current resolution of anomalies presented on the AIT is limited to directed, and sometimes sensitive, area pat downs. This initiative is focused on reducing the number of passenger pat downs required to resolve AIT anomalies. This capability shall be implemented as a handheld AIT anomaly resolution tool.... From the linked-to docs: this is not good: It is expected that advanced handheld screening systems could incorporate one or more orthogonal technologies to detect threat objects such as bulk explosives, metal threat objects and/or non-metal threat objects. Materials of interest detected by the AIT resolution tool may include but are not limited to: military and conventional explosives, homemade explosives, nitrates, chlorates and hydrogen peroxide. Preferably, the device will detect a broad range of formulations such as fuel/oxidizer mixtures, particulates, vapors, liquids, and precursor compounds, Detection of person-borne improvised explosives devices should include devices using any explosive including military, commercial, and homemade explosive (HME) substances, yet provide acceptable false alarm rates. what they DON'T want (no mo' swabs): Use of a swab or preconcentration cartridge which must be analyzed in a separate step should be avoided. So, they want to avoid touching your crotch, which is good, and use a sniffer instead, which could be bad unless false alarms are kept to "acceptable levels". The key will be, what is acceptable? Right now, false alarms are running at 100% for ETD swabs. |
"Hello, Chertoff Group? Yes, we have another $100M to blow, what products do you have to scare the Sunday talk show circuit into buying this week?"
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So in other words they need a hand held nude-o-scope to find whatever the now admitedly useless walk through nude-o-scope misses. Brilliant!
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Originally Posted by Pesky Monkey
(Post 18625660)
So in other words they need a hand held nude-o-scope to find whatever the now admitedly useless walk through nude-o-scope misses. Brilliant!
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Originally Posted by Pesky Monkey
(Post 18625660)
So in other words they need a hand held nude-o-scope to find whatever the now admitedly useless walk through nude-o-scope misses. Brilliant!
no, it's not a hand-held AIT. Re-read the title. It's a hand held device to resolve anomalies FROM an AIT. |
Originally Posted by nachtnebel
(Post 18626021)
that was my initial take, but
no, it's not a hand-held AIT. Re-read the title. It's a hand held device to resolve anomalies FROM an AIT. |
The NYPD is deploying a "hand-held" backscatter x-ray scanner to do walk-by strip-searches; it's not out of the realm of possibility to have any even smaller model.
Between that and the already present Z Backscatter Vans, NYC is a glowing city, and I don't mean that plume of light coming from Times Square. As I recall, the ZBV's give out 4x the radiation of the nude-o-scopes and the handhelds even more. |
Originally Posted by Global_Hi_Flyer
(Post 18627210)
That doesn't rule out a handheld AIT or radiation device. Consider the Cast-Scope. Or the defense contractors that make handheld radiation devices that see through walls.
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Originally Posted by nachtnebel
(Post 18626021)
that was my initial take, but
no, it's not a hand-held AIT. Re-read the title. It's a hand held device to resolve anomalies FROM an AIT. |
I suspect a portable puffer or ETD.
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They could save a lot of money by purchasing (in bulk) some of those x-ray glasses advertised in the back of a boy's magazine... ;)
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Originally Posted by Global_Hi_Flyer
(Post 18634986)
They could save a lot of money by purchasing (in bulk) some of those x-ray glasses advertised in the back of a boy's magazine... ;)
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Originally Posted by FBO
It is expected that advanced handheld screening systems could incorporate one or more orthogonal technologies to detect threat objects such as bulk explosives, metal threat objects and/or non-metal threat objects.
Originally Posted by Pesky Monkey
(Post 18631743)
It's a wand of some type. Magic perhaps?
A handheld puffer (maybe something that pulls air in and analyses it as it flows through*) would do the 'bulk explosives' part and a HHMD would obviously cover the 'metal threat objects' part. But I'm not sure that combining the two would be small enough to qualify as "handheld." (*I don't know how feasible that would be; just a guess.) It would still need a handheld NoS-type device for the 'non-metal threat' and I simply can't see that being feasible on its own in the near future, much less small enough to be combined with the other two sensors. Also, I assume that this device would need run on battery power for at least 2 hours at a time, which further restricts the technology options. Or they're just putting out this tender so that when there are no plausible products, they can continue with the grope-a-thon and say "we tried to come up with an alternative." The most likely outcome, of course, is the Emperor's New Clothes approach; some company produces a plastic replica that makes a random beep (at $$$$$$ each) and the TSA drones wave them around as if they're doing something. ;) |
Originally Posted by InkUnderNails
(Post 18638011)
They don't work.:p
And yet again tomorrow morn thousands of federal employees with tin badges will inhabit the nations airports and stand around with their BDO training to collect a paycheck and do nothing to improve the security of the nation’s transportation system while they chat up the hot chicks and wish they worked for the Secret Service. :p |
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