RFP -- Rapid Improvement of Existing Handheld Technologies for AIT Anomaly Resolution

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.