By Calvin Biesecker
Seeking to further close gaps in the nation’s nuclear detection architecture, the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for systems that can scan passengers and their baggage for radiological and nuclear materials when arriving at airports in the United States from other countries.
The project is called the Passenger and Baggage Pilot Program, or PaxBag, and would involve scanning passengers, carry on bags and checked luggage, according to the RFI that was released last week. Funding for the project and any pilot programs that would be undertaken was provided in the FY ’08 Homeland Security Appropriations Act.
For most of the past few years, DNDO has been focused on getting radiological and nuclear detection screening systems at the nation’s land and seaports of entry, as well as working on new technology to improve screening capabilities. One area that was highlighted as a challenge in the agency’s review of the nation’s nuclear detection architecture needs several years ago was aviation.
To close gaps within the aviation environment, DNDO is doing a pilot project at Dulles International Airport to screen cargo coming into the country using radiation portal monitors. And Customs and Border Protection officers now use handheld radiation detection devices to scan all international general aviation flights landing at U.S. airports.
Now DNDO is trying to block other paths that terrorists might try to exploit in the aviation environment, namely potentially threatening radiological and nuclear materials they might pack or carry individually.
For the PaxBag project, DNDO isn’t specifying a particular solution, such as a handheld device or portal monitor, although the RFI says that unattended scanning of the baggage is preferred.
In addition to scanning for the presence of nuclear materials, DNDO would like systems to be able to identify in real or near-real time any such materials that are detected. DNDO would also like any systems to be able to detect the presence of low activity radiological materials that are being shielded. DNDO wants responses to the RFI by Jan. 8, 2008 [Sol. No. RDSE09PAXBAG].