Research
GAO see red over special DHS transaction agreements
February 20th, 2008
The Government Accountability Office finds that a special category of DHS contracts, known as "other transaction" agreements, is raising significant status and accountability issues. DHS was granted authority to issue the unusual contracts in its enabling legislation, to enhance its ability to acquire cutting edge technology by attracting nontraditional contractors. GAO examined the 37 "other transaction" agreements drawn up under this authority (which is scheduled to lapse on September 30, 2008), and found that while the contract model brought in nontraditional contractors for research and prototype projects, it was provided poor financial controls and no guarantee that DHS would actually acquire the underlying technology or the intellectual property rights. The 37 other transaction agreements represent an investment of almost $500 million.
One way to spot an underground culture
December 28th, 2007
With funding from the DHS science and technology directorate, a team of researchers from the University of Mississippi and the University of Alberta in Canada is developing an innovative way to detect underground tunnels with the use of seismic sensors.
Replicating a canine’s sniffer
December 4th, 2007
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is sniffing around for research organizations that can build an artificial nose based on the actual olfactory receptors of a real dog.
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DHS technology advisors to examine IED threat
November 20th, 2007
Improvised explosive devices, known as IEDs, will be thrust into the spotlight at an upcoming meeting of the Homeland Security Science and Technology Advisory Committee, slated for December 4 through 6 in Washington, DC.
FDA eases the "regulatory burden" on vaccine manufacturers
October 22nd, 2007
I’m neither a physician nor a pharmaceutical manufacturer, so I don’t claim great expertise in the field of vaccine production, but I must admit a recent announcement by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) raised my eyebrows.
Last Thursday, the FDA announced it was relaxing the regulation that prohibits pharmaceutical companies from simultaneously using the same physical space to process what are known as "live vaccine" -– for the influenza virus and, perhaps, anthrax and other bio-threats –- as they use to manufacture their other products.
Stopping intruders from entering an airport’s "exit" lane
October 22nd, 2007
In an effort to prevent people from entering secure areas of an airport by penetrating through an "exit" lane -- which can cause huge disruptions, delay flights and cost airlines millions of dollars -- TSA is gathering information about new technologies that might help thwart such human breaches.
DHS looking for people-tracking software
October 3rd, 2007
The Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory wants to hear from video analytic companies that can supply commercial off-the-shelf software that can track people and detect dangerous anomalies at large public gatherings, such as sporting events, concerts, conventions and public celebrations.
