There always seems to be something that DHS does that either doesn't make much sense, is a waste of funds, or is a little frightening. Perhaps the Department's recent Cargo Conveyance Security Technology Demonstrations of container security devices (CSDs) which took place at Sandia National Laboratory in Albuquerque, New Mexico is a little of all three. Unfortunately, it exemplifies the level of knowledge that DHS Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate has with respect to commercial applications of existing CSDs.
Also see Container Security: Who's In Charge?
It makes more sense to allow-- instead of S&T--the operations components of DHS to determine the kind of research is needed to accomplish their mission objectives and be involved in its contracting. To demonstrate, an analysis of the recent presentation of CSDs by DHS in August, 2009 should support my thesis.
THE PLAYERS
1. Georgia Tech
From the coverage of the event, it appears that the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) with federal dollars developed and demonstrated two of the projects labeled "container security systems," although one might challenge the use of the word "systems," since one was merely detected the unauthorized opening or removal of the container doors. Without getting into the details of each, Georgia Tech, while a superb University with an equally superb research institute with great facilities and labs simply has no depth in the area of container security. Specifically, technology for sensing that the doors have been opened or removed has been available for many years. Georgia Tech in 2006 announced that it was developing this capability.
A new shipping container security device in development by the Georgia Tech Research Institute could make U.S. ports less vulnerable to terrorist activities. The contract is funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Containers equipped with the new devices will be continuously monitored for unauthorized attempts to open the container doors, using a novel sensing technique that is sensitive to door angular position. The system will securely communicate container information remotely to port authorities, providing a log of door activity and an alarm if an event occurs that requires immediate attention.
The new device does not seem to do more than what already existed. In fact, we have had off-the-shelf sensors that are currently used to sense not just doors, but also entry into multiple sides of the container. Finally, GTRI's work in the container security area is mostly in RFID technologies which Georgia Tech admits is problematic given the lack of international standards for use in a global supply chain system.
2. SAIC (Science Applications International Corp)
According to Kenneth Concepcion, DHS/ Science and Technology, Border/Maritime Security Program Manager, SAIC is under contract to DHS S&T. The project title name is ACSD Six side solution system, as part of that contract we have second Task for SAIC, CSD just for the door solution, said Concepcion. The demonstration project took place August 17-28, 2009. Program Manager Concepcion further stated with respect to this demonstration: I should also point out that none of the vendors demonstrated anything at the demo, all demos were run by DHS S&T and Sandia National Labs who are under contract to DHS& It should be noted that this project began in 2006. Then in July 2009, the Defense Industry Daily announced: (SAIC) in San Diego, CA received a $7 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N66001-09-D-0034) from the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center (SPAWAR) Pacific to develop a container security device (CSD), a small, low-power sensor mounted on or within a shipping container to detect and warn of the opening or removal of container doors. The contract includes a 3-year ordering period without options. So who is SAIC? According to the "About SAIC" section of its website, We solve our customers' mission-critical problems with innovative applications of technology and expertise. In medical labs researching cancer cures, in the desert testing next-generation robotics, in the ocean deploying tsunami warning systems, SAIC people and technologies
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