The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Defense (DoD) are seeking information on vehicle mounted radiation detection instrumentation to participate in the Radiological/Nuclear (R/N) Interagency Characterization and Assessment Program (ICAP) joint test program.
The R/N ICAP is an interagency program established to evaluate Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) detection systems against standards, and to develop a systematic approach for sharing data that will enable Federal, State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial government agencies to select suitable detection systems.
See also: Realistic Radiation Detection Training Without Using Radioactive Materials
The information provided in the R/N ICAP will be used to select vehicle mounted radiation detection systems for testing against Vehicle Mounted Mobile Systems (VMMS) Technical Capability Standard (TCS)1 requirements and the revised neutron response requirements stated in American National Standards Institute (ANSI) N42.43, American National Standard Performance Criteria for Hand-Held Instruments for the Detection and Identification of Radionuclides.
VMMSs that integrate alternative 3He technologies are included in this effort as a result of the need for industry to move away from 3He-based neutron detectors. The nation’s limited 3He supply will persist into the foreseeable future and it is highly unlikely there will ever again be enough supply available to address the demand for neutron detection for Homeland Security.
Suppliers are asked to submit:
- A general description of the VMMS including the detector type and operating mode (e.g., weight, battery life, user graphical interface, parameter settings, maintenance requirements, gain stabilization approach, energy calibration techniques)
- A general description of the detection and identification techniques with a focus on the radionuclide identification algorithm
- Existing technical documents, including the VMMS’s technical manual, calibration procedures, and environmental testing results (e.g., temperature)
- Vehicle recommendation and mounting orientation
See also: Arktis Radiation Detection System Passes DARPA Design Review
Participating manufacturers will obtain feedback regarding the performance of their VMMS and the functionality of the alternative 3He neutron technology, which may assist the government in preparing for future full and open competitions.
Further details are available via Solicitation Number: HSHQDC16Q00046. The response deadline is January 22, 2016.