Homeland official outlines opportunities for tech firms

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- A top official in the Homeland Security Department's research agency on Thursday outlined new funding opportunities in government for technology firms.

Speaking at Veritas Software here during a conference sponsored by the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), Jane Alexander, deputy director of Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA), described her agency's structure and mission, and stressed the need to "stitch together" tech systems across the department's 22 agencies.

She said HSARPA will ascertain departmental technology needs based on several issues that are the responsibility of multiple agencies. Those issues include cyber, biological, chemical, radiological and nuclear security.

The research agency also must meet several "customer specific" concerns within the department, such as: protecting critical infrastructure, borders and transportation systems; and aiding the Coast Guard, Secret Service, and state and local "first responders" to emergencies. The heads of those functions must assess their needs and report back to department officials.

HSARPA's main role is to rapidly prototype and adapt existing technologies for short-term solutions, satisfy the operational needs of entities within Homeland Security and develop revolutionary technology options.

Alexander said Homeland Security systems must be affordable, have solutions that match regional needs and include technology frameworks, and result in no false warnings about terrorism. "We cannot afford to believe we are under attack when we are not," she said in stressing the last point.

Alexander said 90 percent to 95 percent of the department's fiscal 2004 budget for science and technology -- which has not yet been appropriated but should be in the range of $1 billion -- will go toward identifying needs. The rest will focus on developing breakthrough technologies.

She also noted that said Homeland Security must have complete solutions suitable for civilian populations.

Alexander said that a desire to protect Americans' privacy will be a key of new systems. "The technology choices we want to make are ones that make Americans more comfortable rather than contributing to a sense of unease," she said.

The deputy director noted that federal contracting rules will be less stringently applied to HSARPA. "As long as you have generally acceptable accounting principles, then we can still do business," she told company officials. "Let's talk about the good ideas first, and then we will find a way to work together."

At least 2.5 percent of contracts will be reserved for small businesses, she said. Homeland Security is developing a Web site to register products for purchase and is soliciting contracts via the Technical Support Working Group and HSARPA announcements.

Finally, Alexander stressed that her department is still in flux and likened it to private-sector startups that must change as they grow. "We're going to consider ourselves an experiment for at least a full year," she said.