Sensing intruders sneaking across the U.S.-Canadian border
The sensors, which might be camouflaged or concealed in trees, concrete bollards or other structures, would be powered by low-consumption batteries, solar panels or more traditional wired commercial electricity.
"The tripwire sensor system is envisioned to contain classification capability that allows distinguishing a human that crosses the linear region from animals, vehicles, or wind blown material," said a sources sought notice published by the science and technology directorate of DHS on February 5.
The system will be able to report the passage of a human being across the international boundary line to the local U.S. Customs and Border Protection office, or CBP headquarters, via radio transmissions.
The sensors will be installed above ground and should not be triggered by human beings who come as close as four feet, but do not cross the established boundary. "In some cases, uneven ground can limit line of sight along the designated linear region such that the detection system will need to be segmented into a number of shorter tripwires," said the DHS notice.
Though it did not indicate specifically where and when these sensors would be deployed, DHS indicated that they would "operate in the environmental conditions typically encountered along the northwest and northeast border regions of the United States."
The department’s office of the chief procurement officer wants to hear by February 20 from prospective vendors that can supply such sensor systems. Companies are invited to contact Brenda Brady, contracting officer, at 202-254-6771 or
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