The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is seeking additional technology solutions to prevent forgery and counterfeiting of certificates and licenses, and issued a new call for proposals through its Silicon Valley Innovation Program (SVIP). Start-ups and innovators will have until 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time on July 10, 2020, to submit proposals to the “Preventing Forgery and Counterfeiting of Certificates and Licenses (Release 2)” solicitation. A virtual Industry Day will be held on June 23, 2020, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Pacific), to discuss the solicitation and current operational needs.
A previous topic call under the same name was released in 2018. This follow-on solicitation identifies five additional use cases for Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) to support the missions of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and the DHS Privacy Office (PRIV).
DLT and Blockchain solutions can improve the delivery of government services to citizens by providing greater visibility into business operations, enhancing the audit and transparency of public service operations, and automating paper-based processes.
To enable DHS components to issue and verify identifiers and credentials, this solicitation is seeking start-up companies with solutions that use global, interoperable standards for decentralized identifiers and resilient registries. The overall goal is to enhance security while employing privacy respecting mechanisms that implement standards-based, multi-platform interoperability.
Applicants are expected to use one or more of following DHS-specific scenarios to frame their submissions:
- Alternative Identifier to the Social Security Number (PRIV)
- Food Supply Chain Safety and Visibility (CBP)
- Supply Chain Traceability of Natural Gas Imports (CBP)
- Supply Chain Traceability of Direct-to-Consumer E-Commerce Shipments (CBP)
- Privacy Respecting Essential Work and/or Task License (USCIS)
“After Phase 1 awards on the first release of this call, DHS operational components provided additional scenarios where these technologies could be used to enhance their operations,” said Melissa Oh, SVIP Managing Director. “This second release underscores the tremendous benefit of the Department’s strategic investments in new commercial technologies—for both DHS and innovation communities.”
To register for the virtual Industry Day event on June 23, 2020, visit: https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/virtual-svip-industry-day.
About the Silicon Valley Innovation Program
On behalf of DHS Operational Components, SVIP invests in start-up companies with viable technologies suitable for rapid prototyping projects from across the nation and around the world to adapt, develop and harness cutting-edge capabilities that are commercially sustainable while simultaneously meeting the needs of DHS operational components and programs.
For more information on current and future SVIP solicitations, visit https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/svip, or contact [email protected].
For more information about S&T’s innovation programs and tools, visit https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/business-opportunities.
