Northrop Grumman [NOC] and its partner IntegenX, Inc.
, have received a contract from the Army to further develop and supply a human DNA identification system to the Biometrics Identity Management Agency (BIMA).
The award was made by the Army Contracting Command, National Capital Region Contracting Center, under the Biometrics Operations and Support Services-Unrestricted indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract vehicle. The value of the award was not disclosed.
The industry team will use IntegenX’ RapidHIT 200 DNA identification system, which automates and accelerates the process of producing standardized DNA profiles from cheek swabs, objects and other human tissue samples.
Once a sample is taken, a profile is generated by the RapidHIT system and is used to match DNA records in domestic and international databases or to expand those databases. DNA-based human identification is already used by numerous national, international, state and local law enforcement and security agencies.
The award follows an evaluation of the system last spring by the Defense Department in simulated operational scenarios that showed the RapidHIT system could repeatedly deliver correct identifications in less than two hours.
“Using the RapidHIT 200 system, our team showed personnel from DoD and other agencies that DNA-based human identification can be accomplished in less than two hours using on-site equipment, instead of taking 12 to 15 ours in a laboratory environment,” says Howard Goldstein, executive vice president of Commercial Affairs at IntegenX. “Profiles were obtained from DNA isolated from both cheek swabs and objects used by participants, and familial relationships were correctly inferred from blinded tissue samples that were several years old. The success rate of the profile generation was 100 percent.”
Under its partnership with IntegenX, Northrop Grumman will build on its work in the area of DNA-based detection and identification and with defense electronics.
“Our innovative solution combines IntegenX’ expertise in DNA processing with Northrop Grumman’s DNA-based detection and identification systems and manufacturing of military-grade electronics to bring rapid DNA processing to the field,” Alan Leckenby, vice president of identity and business solutions for Northrop Grumman Information Systems.
Northrop Grumman also has experience developing, deploying and maintaining large biometric databases, including the Army’s multi-modal Automated Biometric Identification System, and the Biometric Identification System for Access, which supports base access control in the Defense Department’s theater of operations. The company also developed and deployed the IDENT1 crime scene biometric repository for the United Kingdom’s National Policing Improvement Agency.