Developers of counter unmanned aerial system (CUAS) technologies are invited to participate in technology assessments by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T).
A Request for Information (RFIP was issued February 24 for the 2017 Technical Assessment of Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems Technologies in Cities (TACTIC) program. The deadline for submitting applications is March 24.
The RFIP is open to industry, academia and other government organizations with C-UAS technology solutions ready for assessment.
In addition, DHS stated, “Laboratories may [also] submit applications provided that their participation complies with their sponsoring agencies procedures. DHS S&T is seeking technology solutions that detect, track and identify SUAS and/or ground control stations, with a focus on technology solutions that are capable of making automated threat declarations and rejecting erroneous or unwanted reports, reducing operator workload to the maximum extent possible.”
The RFIP seeks technology solutions that are capable of detecting, identifying, tracking and identifying small unmanned aerial systems (SUAS) that are perceived as threats to people or critical infrastructure to participate in the DHS S&T 2017 Technical Assessment of Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) Technologies in Cities program.
Selected C-UAS technology solutions will be assessed in an operationally relevant environment. TACTIC will take place in two parts: the first, which will take place during this summer, will be a familiarization assessment to allow technology developers to test their C-UAS systems under urban conditions and make changes as needed. The second part, to be held in the Fall, will be an assessment to quantify C-UAS system performance. The first part of TACTIC will be a familiarization assessment to allow technology developers to test their C-UAS systems under urban conditions and make changes as needed. The second part will be an assessment to quantify C-UAS system performance. Both assessments will be performed under urban clutter conditions.
“The TACTIC program is designed to understand the viable technological solutions that are currently available,” said S&T Program Executive Officer Anh Duong. “DHS S&T is committed to providing comprehensive technical guidance in the area of unmanned aerial systems and proven solutions to the DHS operational components and the entire Homeland Security Enterprise. In order to provide this information, we must conduct rigorous technical assessments.”
S&T will be used for the development and validation of modeling and simulation, to develop a predictive capability for system performance in various terrains and for cost/benefit analysis. The data will be included in an interagency compendium of C-UAS solutions being updated semi-annually for the National Security Council.
Based on the findings, DHS S&T will provide best practices and strategies to federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. As organizations across the Homeland Security Enterprise become more aware of small UAS threats, they are increasingly prepared to recognize, respond, report and resolve small UAS incidents, making the nation more resilient.
RFIP responses should be focused on technology solutions that detect, identify and track small UAS and/or ground control stations, with a focus on technology solutions that are capable of making automated threat declarations and rejecting erroneous or unwanted reports, as well as reducing operator workload to the maximum extent possible.
Solutions must be Technology Readiness Level 6 or above.
DHS said it “does not intend to make a contract award based on this RFIP, but will seek to enter a Limited Purpose Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with each manufacturer, vendor or non-public entity selected to participate in the 2017 TACTIC.
DHS S&T established the Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aerial Systems (PEO UAS) to lead DHS efforts in guiding, advising and enabling technology solutions in this area. DHS stated it “has an obligation to assess these technology solutions to support a variety of missions across its Components and the Homeland Security Enterprise (HSE).
DHS said, “Information gathered during TACTIC may be used by DHS, its components and HSE to gather sufficient information to understand the viable technological solutions that are currently available. Additionally, data collected during TACTIC, as well as other separate tests and exercises conducted by DHS S&T, will be used for the development and validation of modeling and simulation (M&S) to develop a predictive capability for system performance in various terrains and for cost/benefit analysis. Furthermore, data will be included in an interagency compendium of C-UAS solutions being updated semi-annually for the National Security Council.”
