CBP - Mobile Video Surveillance System (MVSS)

The ROI for MVSS is 1,252 percent. This means that for every dollar invested, the Government is realizing a cost savings of $12.52. A key conclusion of the Analysis of Alternatives is that there is no single technology to answer the question what is the best situational awareness technology for the southwest border? The answer depends on the specifics of each area and cueing by one system to initiate tracking by another provides valuable synergies. For example, MVSS is effective for short and medium distance mobile surveillance, whereas the Mobile Surveillance Capability (MSC) solution is more effective for long distance mobile surveillance. This approach requires a mix of both mobile and fixed alternatives. MVSS units enable a wider area coverage with fewer resources than the base case scenario. MVSS improves efficiencies through monitoring by providing mobile electro-optical and infrared sensing capabilities that enable Agents to perform their missions. MVSS mobile capabilities are much more efficient than USBP agents on foot or horseback, covering a wider area with fewer resources. This is the preferred solution in certain urban, rural, and remote areas that are difficult to access and monitor with other systems like Integrated Fixed Towers. MVSS will be deployed for day or night use. Units will also be deployed to augment surveillance systems that have line-of-sight coverage gaps caused by existing infrastructure, terrain (e.g., ravines or washes), or vegetation. MVSS provides mobile surveillance and situational awareness in remote areas over a range of 40 feet to 5 miles from the deployment location, providing agents the ability to respond to threats in varying locations. Other benefits include increased situational awareness of land borders. The deployment of MVSS units in Rio Grande Valley (RGV) exceeded the material availability target of 75 percent (metric 101441), enabling Agents to utilize the technology whenever needed. Furthermore, the mean time torepair the units are being managed toward a target not to exceed 8 hours a month (metric 101443), as is the number of corrective maintenance actions to not exceed 2 times a month (metric 101442). These performance metrics advance the CBP Goal: Advance Comprehensive Border Security Management and the DHS Goal: to Secure U.S. Air, Land and Sea Borders and Approaches. USBP has greater flexibility in terms of where assets are deployed, based on threats and needs. In addition, Agents are freed to focus on areas with the highest threats and provided greater lead time to plan effective interdictions. Most importantly, Agent safety is prioritized as they are less likely to work in entrenched, isolated areas or areas with poor visibility, leaving them vulnerable to potentially harmful engagements. Lastly, MVSS helps minimize vulnerabilities resulting from the human factor. Despite training and experience, Agents are vulnerable to compromising operational effectiveness due to fatigue and human errors. In contrast, one or two Agents equipped with the MVSS can surveil up to a 5-mile radius and can respond to illegal activities in a fraction of the time it would take Agents on foot. The MVSS will enable the USBP stations to maintain situational awareness with fewer Agents, e.g., one-man team surveilling a 5-mile radius versus one 1 Agent, per one mile border, thereby resulting in cost savings and improving operational effectiveness.

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