First-Line Screening Sensors for Detection of Concealed Objects

Request for Information: - First-Line Screening Sensors for Detection of Concealed Objects DESCRIPTION The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Science and Technology Directorate (DHS-S&T), Explosives Division, has been tasked to conduct operational field demonstrations of remotely operated and standoff explosive countermeasure technologies to address the threat from suicide bomber, leave-behind, and vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices.DHS-S&T's Standoff Technology Integration Demonstration Program (STIDP) is designed to accelerate the development of standoff explosives detection technologies, concept of operations, and training. The ultimate goal of the program is to prevent explosive attacks at large public events via a spiral development approach. STIDP seeks to obtain information on sensors or detectors that can be used to conduct non-contact screening of patrons at large public events in large, free-flowing crowds. One example is to use a network of perimeter-deployed metal detectors that could detect the presence of metallic fragmentation materials in an improvised explosive device (IED). In addition to electromagnetic approaches, other possible technologies include (but are not limited to) acoustic/ultrasonic and radar. These - first line sensors would serve as a first layer of screening that could provide a means of identifying persons of interest for subsequent screening by more advanced standoff detection systems (e.g., infrared thermal imaging, millimeter wave, terahertz, etc.). Individual sensors and networked sensors are both of interest. The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to identify interested parties or teams that have existing or prototype sensors that can detect concealed objects (IEDs) on moving individuals and who wish to participate in a field test to evaluate the integration of first-line sensors with an overall concealed object detection architecture or - system of systems. Companies with viable technologies may receive funding for product maturation and/or system integration and for field test support. FIRST-LINE SENSOR PROBLEM STATEMENT Technology-based threat assessments often treat all entities in the population to be screened as equal probability threats. Screening 100% of incoming patrons with the most effective detection technologies is presently expensive and man-power intensive. One alternative is to make an initial assessment that identifies an anomalous characteristic for some individuals in the population that triggers additional screening, with the goal of making a determination of threat or no threat, or that can eliminate portions of the crowd from the need for additional screening. For such a first-line system to be useful, the false negative probability for the target threats must be minimized, often at the expense of higher rates of false alarms. An effective first-line system that is highly sensitive to target threats will identify a sub-population for screening that is much smaller than the whole population, despite the high false alarm rate, because the prevalence of threats is extremely rare. Some of the key challenges at large public events include: 1) There are multiple entry routes to the venue. 2) There are porous boundaries entering the venue's outer fringes. 3) Pedestrian traffic can range from single patrons to large families or common affiliates. 4) Patrons will mix in and out, depending on crowd flow and layout of the venue's paths of ingress/egress 5) Paths of ingress/egress range from narrow, occluded walkways to wide open grassy parks and parking lots. 6) Pedestrian traffic does not simultaneously flow in one direction. 7) The time-based crowd flow, in terms of numbers of people, typically has a steep ramp-up just before the event begins. 8) During periods of heaviest crowd flow, there is significant blocking of a large portion of the crowd by people in front of them, limiting line-of-sight screening options. REQUIREMENTS Operating Environment The technology or system must meet the following operating requirements: - Operate outdoors, with minimal impact from weather (heat, cold, rain, snow, wind) - Operate in high and low light and in the presence of shadows - Ideally be operable at night without artificial lighting - Have minimal interference from other moving objects in the scene (e.g., vehicles, wind-blown trees, shrubs, and flags). First-Line Sensor Features The following represent the minimum technology requirements for first-line sensor technologies to be considered as a candidate technology for the STIDP: - The first-line system must detect evidence of threats while considering potential issues of personal privacy. - The evidence that is used by the first-line sensor or system must be a characteristic of the threat and not population profiling. - The first-line system must be tunable for sensitivity to the threat objects, allowing for the control of the probability of detection and false alarm rate. - The first-line system should operate without constant operator engagement. The system should provide an alert and sufficient information (e.g., a signal output or trigger) to permit hand-off of the potential threat to other technologies or interdiction. This must occur in real time. - It is very likely that the first-line system will require multiple sensors to monitor the first-line boundary. These sensors need to communicate to a console that can be managed by a limited number of personnel. As an example, if 50 sensors are needed to monitor the first-line boundary, it is not feasible to engage 50 operators to watch the sensors. - The first-line system must have a calibration process and a check source that can be used to assess the state of health for the technology. A network of sensors must have a self-assessment capability and dynamic reporting of sensor failure. Sensor failures may consist of a catastrophic loss of a sensor or sensor response drift outside of control limits. - Networked sensor systems must be designed to minimize communication latencies and to prevent system paralysis when multiple sensors report detection events. - Sensors must not require that a person walk through a portal or be required to stop. Desirable Technology Capabilities The following list represents technology capabilities that are desirable to DHS S&T, but not actual requirements at this time: - Battery operation (which could preclude the necessity to install power infrastructure) - Wireless communication (which could preclude the necessity to install communications infrastructure) - Low cost - Minimal manpower requirements (less is better) - Easily configured for change in location, orientation, and venue - Technologies with open interfaces or that are easily integrated into other 3rd-party architectures (preferably open architectures). Key Words: sensor, sensor network, node, detector, concealed object detection, concealed weapon detection, metal detection, improvised explosive device, suicide bomber, crowds, IED signatures, standoff, large public events INTERESTED PARTIES Parties that have first-line sensor, detectors, or detection systems that could be used for screening patrons at large public events for concealed objects are encouraged to respond. Please limit submission to a maximum of five pages in length (including a cover sheet) and provide the following information: Cover Page (Page 1) - Contact and company information o Name o Title o Company name o Date of incorporation o FY08 sales o Number of employees o Location o Mailing address o Phone number o Web page address o Email address - Name of technology - Technology maturity: Existing technology, prototype, or technology concept - Technology summary covering technical approach, operating principles, testing conducted to date, projected or actual costs, and example commercial sales, if any. Page 2-5 - Technical background on how the technology works, and number and type of components - State whether or not the technology is suitable for use outdoors with large crowds - Overview of how the technology would be deployed in an operational setting (e.g., to obtain coverage of a 150-meter entrance perimeter), including hardware, software, and manpower requirements - Overview of the test and evaluation conducted to date and how this data supports performance claims - Current ongoing R&D and sources of funding (including amounts) - Schedule for anticipated technology upgrades and associated testing - How the technology is or has been or can be integrated with other sensor technologies to improve the overall countermeasure performance - Government/academia/industrial partners or potential partners - Previous work performed in the subject area being proposed, including but not limited to work performed for the U.S. Government, or other federal agencies (including international) - Description of how your technology would need to be adapted or integrated with other concealed object detection technologies to provide a viable solution. Marketing brochures, fliers, published presentations or papers, etc. that summarize the technology and more about your company are encouraged in addition to the five-page submission, but should not be substituted as a replacement for the submission. Submit responses to this RFI electronically to Pacific Northwest National Laboratory at stidp-rfi@pnl.gov. Please include in the subject line the number of the RFI you are responding to.