97.121: Radiological/Nuclear Detection Pilot Evaluations Program

97.121

Inactive

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

April 17, 2014

June 22, 2013

The WCMP addresses a potential threat pathway in the maritime domain. This project reflects the priority that the department has placed on balancing risk against all potential threats. In the heretofore respects, this initiative addresses and is consistent with Presidential Policy Directive/PPD-8 priority areas of developing and enhancing a national preparedness system; building and sustaining preparedness and operational readiness throughout the Nation; and providing Federal financial assistance in preparedness efforts. The West Coast Maritime Pilot (WCMP) program is a Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) sponsored initiative designed to reduce the risk of small vessels (<300 gross tons) being used to transport illicit radiological/nuclear (rad/nuc) materials. Small vessels pose a significant risk because they are ubiquitous and they can transit US waterways relatively anonymously. The pilot program is being applied in two West Coast port regions: Washington State’s Puget Sound, and San Diego, CA. San Diego was selected because of its military and commercial significance, large population density near the water, proximity to the US/Mexico border, and an existing Area Maritime Security Committee (AMSC). The WCMP will provide maritime radiation detection capabilities for State and local authorities in Washington State’s Puget Sound and San Diego, California areas. The three-year pilot involves the development of a radiation detection architecture that reduces the risk of radiological and nuclear threats that could be illicitly transported on recreational or small commercial vessels. The pilot will be conducted in close coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection. The Puget Sound region and San Diego, with DNDO assistance, will leverage existing federal grant funding to support small vessel radiation detection programs and the procurement of recommended equipment. DNDO will be working with maritime partners and local authorities in both areas to assess the geographic configurations of the ports to maximize detection and interdiction opportunities. Additional analyses for local partners will include a baseline survey of the existing radiological and nuclear detection architecture, a gap and risk assessment, and associated recommended actions to be developed in conjunction with maritime stakeholders. Maritime stakeholders will also receive guidance from DNDO on operational protocols, training, and exercises that support small vessel radiation detection capabilities. The fundamental goal of the DNDO sponsored West Coast Maritime PRND Pilot Project is to evaluate the effectiveness of a limited-phased deployment of COTs/GOTs preventive rad/nuc detection capabilities and Concepts of Operations (CONOPS) against the small vessel threat in the Puget Sound and San Diego regions and gather lessons learned to improve effectiveness of a wider deployment of maritime capabilities to other priority US ports. Objectives for this pilot include: 1) Deploy and evaluate an operational PRND detection and reporting capability consisting of human portable, mobile and fixed radiation detection systems for maritime applications. 2) Implement and evaluate a regional maritime PRND CONOPS with alarm resolution and MOTR protocols 3) Develop, provide, and evaluate a maritime specific training, CONOPS, and protocols. 4) Identify gaps in the maritime architecture, and provide user requirements for future CONOPS and system development efforts. 5) Introduce and use Human Portable Radiation Detection System (HPRDS) Engineering Design Models (EDMs) when feasible in order to provide end user feedback to the HPRDS Program office.

Z - Salaries and Expenses

Financial and nonfinancial assistance may be provided for the following: salaries, materials and supplies, equipment, travel, publication costs, subcontractor and supporting costs required for technical and other activities necessary to achieve the objective. Restrictions on use of funds will be identified in the announcement, program guidance and award provisions.

Refer to program guidance for further information.