HSARPA unveils first research project

The Homeland Security Advanced Research Project Agency intends to release its first solicitation for research opportunities in the next two weeks.

Agency officials want to know more about detection systems for biological and chemical countermeasures, according to a pre-solicitation notice. To help potential bidders, the agency will hold a bidders conference Sept. 29 at the Marriot Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Questions about the announcement are being handled by the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity, and can be e-mailed to don.wheatley@us.army.mil. HSARPA, the external funding arm of the Homeland Security Department, has an $800 million budget this year to develop new technologies to fight terrorism. In a recent interview, HSARPA Deputy Director Jane Alexander said some solicitations may be classified requiring potential bidders to have security clearances to even see them.