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National Academy might "second-guess" the DNDO

In accordance with instructions in the FY2008 omnibus appropriations bill, DHS is ready to hire the National Academy of Sciences to assist the department’s Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) in reviewing the use of Advanced Spectroscopic Portals at U.S. ports, the Nevada Test Site and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. A committee of the National Academy will review documents, plans, interviews and meetings; evaluate the adequacy of DNDO’s testing and analysis of these advanced spectroscopic portals, known as ASPs; and examine DNDO’s cost-benefit analyses for such systems. Based on language in the FY2007 Homeland Security Appropriations Act, DHS is hiring the National Academy to help Secretary Michael Chertoff determine whether to issue a formal certification that a "significant increase in operational effectiveness will be achieved" by these ASPs.

As a result of the Congressional language in the most recent appropriations bill, "only a proposal from the [National Academy] will be contemplated," said the DHS office of the chief procurement officer, in a presolicitation notice issued February 25.

DHS expects to issue its formal Request For Proposals on February 29, "but the Government will not evaluate any other proposals," said the notice.

DNDO was established within DHS in April 2005 to centralize the federal government’s effort to minimize the threat of nuclear and radiological materials. Led by Director Vayl Oxford, DNDO is divided into eight directorates responsible for addressing key mission areas.

DNDO has announced the award of ASP contracts totaling $1.15 billion, but the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has expressed concerns about the test campaign organized by DNDO to evaluate the spectroscopic portals.

ASPs can more clearly identify the source of detected radiation through spectroscopic isotope identification, some experts say. The portals can better differentiate highly enriched uranium and weapons grade plutonium from naturally occurring radioactive materials.

At a hearing last September before a House oversight and investigations subcommittee, Oxford acknowledged the GAO’s concerns and outlined the elements of the DNDO’s test campaign, which includes:

• System Qualification Tests to determine if the ASPs have been manufactured properly;
• Environmental Product Qualification Tests to see if the ASPs will perform properly in the anticipated environments;
• Nevada Test Site Tests to support the development of the ASP’s algorithm;
• New York Container Terminal Test to determine if the ASPs can reduce the referral rate to secondary inspections;
• Integration Testing to see if the ASPs are ready to deploy;
• Field Validation to identify operational issues and determine if the ASPs are providing an appropriate level of functionality.

The future of the ASP program will be significantly affected by the National Academy’s analyses and conclusions.

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