DHS S&T seeking pandemic response, needs proposals

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) personnel said the agency is seeking global proposals addressing pandemic response, as well as current and future needs.

The Emerging Needs: Covid-19 Response & Future Mitigation topic call was introduced via the agency’s Silicon Valley Innovation Program (SVIP) – which officials noted invests in start-up companies nationwide and globally with technologies suitable for prototyping projects to adapt, develop and harness cutting-edge capabilities.

“There couldn’t be a more crucial time for us to partner with the global innovation community to address and navigate pressing challenges,” William N. Bryan, DHS senior official Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary for Science & Technology, said. “We know the effectiveness of sourcing commercially available solutions to solve our problem sets and SVIP’s investment vehicle will help us to quickly develop solutions DHS components need to address health, safety and operational concerns.”

Proposals should be submitted by the 12 p.m. Pacific Time on Sept. 30, 2020. A Virtual Industry Day is slated for Aug. 18, 2020, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Pacific Time to discuss the solicitation and operational needs.

“The solutions that result from this topic call will not only benefit DHS,” Melissa Oh, managing director of SVIP, said. “But we hope they will also enable the public here and abroad to safely gain some sense of normalcy again.”