A -- Exploratory Research in Nuclear Detection Technology

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been tasked to ensure that the United States remains safe from attack by the illicit importation, development, or procurement of a nuclear or radiological device. In recognition of the catastrophic risk posed by the use of a nuclear weapon within the United States, DHS has integrated all nuclear detection research, development, testing, evaluation, acquisition, and operational support into a single office: the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office. The DNDO will develop the global nuclear detection architecture; conduct research and development; and acquire and support the deployment of the domestic nuclear detection system.The DNDO established the Office of Transformational Research and Development (OTR&D) to conduct, support, coordinate, and encourage an aggressive transformational program of Research and Development (R&D) that will dramatically improve national capabilities to detect and report attempts to import or transport a nuclear device, Special Nuclear Material (SNM), or radiological materials intended for illicit use. Towards this end, OTR&D is conducting an aggressive program of exploratory research to make significant advances in basic detection technology and to reduce the costs and manpower required. Priority is placed on R&D that has the greatest enabling potential for filling the capability gaps in the nuclear detection architecture. Transformational R&D will undertake those efforts that dramatically improve system performance and reduce technical, performance and/or cost risks in achieving DNDO objectives by bringing innovative new concepts to a Proof-of-Concept (PoC) demonstration before transitioning them to a more advanced technology demonstration or a final commercial system development phase. DNDO is soliciting proposals under the attached Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for Transformational Research and Development in Nuclear Detection Technology that directly supports the DNDO mission. Specifically, this BAA solicits proposals in the following areas of Exploratory Research (ER): Innovative Detection Materials, Innovative Detection Techniques, Advanced Special Nuclear Material (SNM) Interrogation and Verification, and Algorithm Development. The Government encourages participation from private industry, academic institutions, and non-profit organizations. The submission deadline for (optional) white papers is March 30, 2006, and for full technical and cost proposals is June 1, 2006.