The Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) has awarded Raytheon [RTN] a $2.9 million, six-month contract to begin developing a Stand-Off Radiation Detection System (SORDS), marking the second award for the company in the area of radiation detection systems.
In 2006 Raytheon was one of three companies selected by DNDO, which is a branch of the Department of Homeland Security, to complete development of an Advanced Spectroscopic Portal (ASP). That contract marked the opening of a new niche–development and potential production of radiation detection equipment, in the homeland security space–to broaden Raytheon’s expertise in radiation detection.
The potential value of Raytheon’s contract is $9.8 million if three additional options are exercised. In October DNDO awarded General Electric [GE], the Naval Research Laboratory, and SAIC [SAI] similar contracts under SORDS. The contracts are for two years, although any company that fails to meet the requirements of each phase may not be funded to complete the demonstration.
Raytheon declined to discuss its solution due to proprietary concerns. For SORDS, the company is using its OpenAIR business model, which leverages the expertise of other companies and organizations. Raytheon’s SORDS teammates include Los Alamos National Laboratory, Canada’s Bubble Technology Industries, which is a key partner on ASP, Radiation Monitoring Devices, Draper Laboratory, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Michigan.
Under SORDS, DNDO hopes to advance gamma ray detection technologies to achieve greater stand-off ranges, discrimination of radioactive types and intensities.