DHS Solicitation: Improvement of Existing Handheld Technologies for AIT Resolution
May 22, 2012 | 6:07 pm
#1
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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:
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.
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.
May 22, 2012 | 7:33 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,425
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....
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.
May 22, 2012 | 10:45 pm
#6
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no, it's not a hand-held AIT. Re-read the title. It's a hand held device to resolve anomalies FROM an AIT.
May 23, 2012 | 6:58 am
#7
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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.
May 23, 2012 | 8:14 am
#8
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 121
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.
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.
May 23, 2012 | 8:30 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,425
that is true. My assumption, which given history could be wrong, is that TSA wouldn't be so stupid as to try to quiet the crowd reaction to crotch groping by coming up with a hand held device that shows your naked crotch to a TSA clerk standing right in front of you. No, I think they've learned their lesson on that one. If they haven't, we'll see a repeat of the last two years only more intense wrt the public outcry.
May 24, 2012 | 9:59 am
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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... 
May 24, 2012 | 6:35 pm
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May 24, 2012 | 8:53 pm
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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.
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.
May 24, 2012 | 9:31 pm
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So? Neither does the pseudo science of detecting terrorists by micro expressions after a 48 hour training course. That has not stopped TSA from spending how many billions on this voodoo science program. Must work is not in the TSA procurement manual.
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 nations transportation system while they chat up the hot chicks and wish they worked for the Secret Service.
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 nations transportation system while they chat up the hot chicks and wish they worked for the Secret Service.