SPECIAL NOTICE REGARDING FUTURE DHS USE OF HELIUM-3 (3He) GAS FOR NEUTRON DETECTION

THIS SPECIAL NOTICE IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY. This Notice is issued solely for information and planning purposes; it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP or Broad Agency Announcement (BAA). Background A variety of alternative neutron detectors are now commercially available for radiation portal monitors and some vehicle mounted systems; thus, the government will no longer furnish 3He to these systems. Moreover, based on the 3He Interagency Policy Committee (IPC) Guidance that speaks for the Government as a whole, Radiation Portal Monitors have not been eligible to receive 3He gas since Fiscal Year 2010. The Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) testing that has occurred over the past several years have found viable technologies for backpacks and handhelds, however industry has not integrated these subsystems into new commercial products to replace legacy systems that are based on 3He neutron detectors. DNDO anticipates industry can commercialize alternative technologies for neutron detection into radiological detection systems by the end of FY15. Therefore, commencing in FY16, DNDO is not planning to provide 3He gas as government furnished material for any neutron detector system provided that non-3He systems are available in the commercial marketplace and meet user-specified performance requirements. Future Planned DHS Use of 3He-based Neutron Detectors The need to effectively manage the nation's 3He supply will persist into the foreseeable future; however, there are viable alternative technologies that can be commercialized and used for neutron detection. The principles for allocating and managing the supply of 3He will be the following: - DHS anticipates transiting off 3He based neutron detection sub-systems for future procurements starting in FY16. - When procuring already deployed DHS radiation detector systems, under a case-by-case evaluation, those systems may potentially receive 3He gas as government furnished material. If an alternative radiation detector exists as a commercial product, meets user-specified requirements, and is suitable for their mission critical operations, the 3He based neutron detector system will not be procured by DHS. - DHS, state, local, tribal and territorial (SLT&T) agencies may procure 3He based neutron detector equipment at any time as long as the manufacture provides the 3He gas using their own supplies. - SLT&T entities are now encouraged to pursue radiation detector systems with alternative technologies for neutron detection. Under a case-by-case evaluation, SLT&T entities can potentially receive 3He gas as government furnished material through FY15 for equipment purchased with their Homeland Security Grant funds. If an alternative radiation detector exists as a commercial product and meets user-specified performance requirements, then 3He gas will not be provided. - DHS will continue to provide limited quantities of 3He to SLT&T agencies for backpack systems until non-3He systems are available in the commercial marketplace and meet user-specified performance requirements. Future Reviews and Updates DHS will review and update these plans on an annual basis to ensure the plans remain relevant to DHS and reflect the current market condition.