Notice Designating the University of Rhode Island as a DHS Center of Excellence for Explosives Detection Mitigation and Response as Education Lead Institution, 33834-33835 [E8-13291]
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33834
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 115 / Friday, June 13, 2008 / Notices
will collaborate closely with the S&T
Directorate’s Borders & Maritime
Division which manages a full-spectrum
research and development (R&D)
program from fundamental research to
advanced technologies. The COE for the
Study of Maritime, Island and Extreme/
Remote Environment Security will
provide enabling basic research that will
advance the technical tools and
information that S&T’s customers will
need in the future to defend maritime
commerce and the global supply chain,
minimize damage and expedite recovery
from attacks or catastrophic events
impacting the maritime domain, and
protect maritime-related population
centers, critical infrastructure and other
national maritime interests. This COE
will develop relevant educational
curricula for both matriculated students
and career professionals.
The Center of Excellence for the
Study of Maritime, Island and Extreme/
Remote Environment Security will
conduct basic and transformational
research on maritime security issues in
the following areas:
1. Maritime Domain Awareness.
Specifically the COE will research the
best ways—with full regard to legal and
international frameworks, sensitivity to
privacy, effectiveness, and
affordability—of maintaining necessary
and appropriate surveillance over the
U.S. and global maritime domain and its
users, ports of entry and maritime
infrastructure. In addition, the COE will
develop improvements in our ability to
screen and scan cargo, vessels,
passengers, the maritime workforce and
the boating public, so that contraband
does not enter the U.S.
2. Marine Transportation System
Security, Critical Infrastructure
Protection, Resiliency and Recovery.
Research will develop effective and
feasible ways to imbed security
practices that will enhance supply chain
transparency and protect against
intentional acts of terrorism. Research
will assess the risk and vulnerability of
extreme environments for terrorist
attacks and catastrophic events and
methods to mitigate the consequences of
these events on people, commerce, and
critical infrastructure should they occur.
Research will evaluate the resiliency of
the maritime transportation system to
aid in maritime system recovery
planning.
3. Maritime Risk Management, Policy
Analysis, & International Governance.
Research will develop new technologies
and improved risk assessment
methodologies to prioritize protection
efforts, and best leverage public and
private layered security efforts to protect
critical maritime infrastructure. Policy
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and legal analysis will be conducted to
enhance cooperation among nations and
international organizations that share
common interests regarding the security
of the maritime domain.
4. Maritime Enforcement, Operational
Analyses, & Command, Control, and
Communications. In particular the COE
will develop approaches that allow for
multiple layers of security and diverse
forms of surveillance, interdiction, and
enforcement to be effectively integrated.
Research will also facilitate the timely
communication of information and
analysis generated by surveillance and
screening systems.
Announcement of Funding
Opportunities and Competition
In February 2007, the Department
established a competitive process and
requested white papers and proposals
from universities that wished to be
designated as DHS Centers of Excellence
in: 1. Explosives Detection Mitigation
and Response, 2. Explosives Detection,
Mitigation and Response, 3. Border
Security Immigration, or 4. Maritime,
Island and Extreme/Remote
Environment Security. The funding
opportunity announcements for these
four Centers of Excellence were
published at https://www.grants.gov on
February 4, 2007, as required by the
Office of Management and Budget. In
the area of Maritime, Island and
Extreme/Remote Environment Security
DHS received 8 white papers and
evaluated them through a peer-review
panel process that included scientific
expertise from the federal government,
peer-institutional faculty, and the
private sector. Following the white
paper review, DHS received 4 full
proposals by the closing date of July 30,
2007. The 4 full proposals were
reviewed by subject matter experts
external to DHS S&T. Two full
proposals were referred to an internal
review panel of S&T subject matter
experts for evaluation, who
recommended site visits at both sites.
Based on information collected on these
site visits, DHS selected the University
of Hawaii and Stevens Institute of
Technology to be Research Co-Lead
Institutions for the Maritime, Island and
Extreme/Remote Environment Security
Center of Excellence.
The University of Hawaii and its
partners will conduct basic and
transformational research on maritime
related issues including Maritime
Domain Awareness; Marine
Transportation System Security, Critical
Infrastructure Protection, Resiliency and
Recovery; Maritime Risk Management,
Policy Analysis, & International
Governance; and Maritime Enforcement,
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Fmt 4703
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Operational Analyses, & Command,
Control, and Communications.
Jay M. Cohen,
Under Secretary for Science and Technology,
Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. E8–13295 Filed 6–12–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410–10–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
Office of the Secretary
Notice Designating the University of
Rhode Island as a DHS Center of
Excellence for Explosives Detection
Mitigation and Response as Education
Lead Institution
Office of the Secretary,
Department of Homeland Security.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland
Security has designated the University
of Rhode Island as a DHS Center of
Excellence for Explosives Detection
Mitigation and Response, Education
Lead Institution.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Douglas Bauer, Program Manager,
University Programs, Science and
Technology Directorate, Department of
Homeland Security, Washington, DC
20528; telephone 202–254–6040,
facsimile 202–254–6179; e-mail
doug.bauer@dhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Section 308 of the Homeland Security
Act of 2002, Public Law 107–296, (the
‘‘Homeland Security Act’’), as amended
by the Consolidated Appropriations
Resolution 2003, Public Law 108–7, and
as codified in Title 6 of the United
States Code Chapter I Subchapter III
Section 188(b)(2) [6 U.S.C. 188(b)(2)],
directs the Department of Homeland
Security (‘‘Department’’) to sponsor
extramural research, development,
demonstration, testing and evaluation
programs relating to homeland security.
As part of this program, the Department
has established a coordinated system of
university-based centers for homeland
security (the ‘‘Centers’’).
The Centers are envisioned to be an
integral component of the Department’s
capability to anticipate, prevent,
respond to, and recover from terrorist
attacks. The Centers will leverage
multidisciplinary capabilities and fill
gaps in current knowledge.
Title 6 U.S.C. 188(b)(2)(B) lists
fourteen areas of substantive expertise
that, if demonstrated, might qualify
universities for designation as
E:\FR\FM\13JNN1.SGM
13JNN1
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 115 / Friday, June 13, 2008 / Notices
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
university-based centers. The listed
areas of expertise include: (1) The
training of first responders; (2)
responding to incidents involving
weapons of mass destruction and
biological warfare; (3) emergency and
diagnostic medical services; (4)
chemical, biological, radiological and
nuclear countermeasures or detection;
(5) animal and plant health and
diagnostics; (6) food safety; (7) water
and wastewater operations; (8) port and
waterway security; (9) multi-modal
transportation; (10) information security
and information engineering; (11)
engineering; (12) educational outreach
and technical assistance; (13) border
and transportation security; and (14) the
public policy implications and public
dissemination of homeland security
relevant research and development.
However, the list is not exclusive. 6
U.S.C. 188(b)(2)(C) gives the Secretary
discretion to except certain criteria
specified in 6 U.S.C. 188(b)(2)(B) and
consider additional criteria beyond
those specified in 6 U.S.C. 188(b)(2)(B)
in selecting universities for this
program, as long as the Department
issues a Federal Register notice
explaining the criteria used for the
designation.
Criteria
In response to Congressional direction
contained in the Conference Report for
the Fiscal Year 2007 Department of
Homeland Security Appropriations Act,
the DHS Under Secretary for Science
and Technology developed a plan in
November 2006 to establish new DHS
Centers of Excellence in high priority
science and technology areas which
aligned to the DHS Science and
Technology Directorate’s research
portfolios and for which DHS
determined there were significant gaps
in scientific understanding and
technological development. These areas
included: 1. Natural Disasters, Coastal
Infrastructure and Emergency
Management, 2. Explosives Detection,
Mitigation and Response, 3. Maritime,
Island and Remote Environment
Security, and 4. Border Security and
Immigration. Research in these areas
will contribute significantly to the
Department’s ability to enhance
homeland security and the safety of our
citizens from both natural and manmade threats.
The criteria for designation for this
new Center of Excellence (COE) for
Explosives Detection Mitigation and
Response (EDMR) is demonstrated
expertise in conducting fundamental
explosives-related sciences and
engineering research. S&T is
establishing the EDMR COE to conduct
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:18 Jun 12, 2008
Jkt 214001
research to enhance the Nation’s
technical capabilities to detect, prepare
for, prevent damages from, respond to,
and recover from terrorist attacks
involving explosives. The EDMR COE
will collaborate closely with the DHS/
Science and Technology (S&T)
Directorate’s Explosives Division, which
manages a full-spectrum research and
development (R&D) program from
fundamental research to advanced
technologies. The EDMR COE will
provide enabling basic research that will
advance the technical tools and
information that S&T’s customers will
need in the future. The EDMR COE will
develop relevant educational curricula
for both matriculated students and
career professionals. The EDMR COE
also will participate in S&T’s University
Network, a consortium of COEs that
share resources and data and collaborate
on research projects to provide costeffective results to support DHS’s
mission.
Announcement of Funding
Opportunities and Competition
In February 2007, the Department
established a competitive process and
requested white papers and proposals
from universities that wished to be
designated as DHS Centers of Excellence
in: 1. Natural Disasters, Coastal
Infrastructure and Emergency
Management, 2. Explosives Detection,
Mitigation and Response, 3. Maritime,
Island and Remote Environment
Security, or 4. Border Security and
Immigration. The funding opportunity
announcements for these four Centers of
Excellence were published at https://
www.grants.gov on February 4, 2007, as
required by the Office of Management
and Budget. In the area of Explosives
Detection Mitigation and Response,
DHS received 19 white papers and
evaluated them through a peer-review
panel process that included scientific
expertise from the federal government,
peer-institutional faculty, and the
private sector. Following the white
paper review, DHS received 5 full
proposals by the closing date of July 30,
2007. The 5 full proposals were
reviewed by subject matter experts
external to DHS S&T. All 5 full
proposals were referred to an internal
review panel of S&T subject matter
experts for evaluation, who
recommended site visits at 3 sites.
Based on information collected on these
site visits, DHS selected the University
of Rhode Island to be the Education
Lead Institution for the Explosives
Detection Mitigation and Response
Center of Excellence, in partnership
with Northeastern University (the
Research Lead), New Mexico Institute of
PO 00000
Frm 00035
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
33835
Mining and Technology and other
affiliated universities.
The University of Rhode Island and
its partners will develop educational
programs and conduct basic and
transformational research and on
explosives-related issues including
explosives properties, formulation, and
characterization; detection of explosives
and explosive devices; sensor materials;
unconventional approaches to identify
threats, and other countermeasures.
These programs will include the
development and use of explosives
research and educational capabilities at
minority-serving institutions.
This team of institutions will become
an intrinsic part of the DHS science and
technology portfolio, working closely
with DHS and other federal, state and
local governments to reduce potential
damages from floods, hurricanes, and
other natural disasters.
Jay M. Cohen,
Under Secretary for Science and Technology,
Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. E8–13291 Filed 6–12–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410–10–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
Office of the Secretary
Notice Designating the University of
Texas at El Paso as a DHS Center of
Excellence for the Study of Border
Security and Immigration for
Education Lead Institution
Office of the Secretary,
Department of Homeland Security.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland
Security has designated the University
of Texas at El Paso as a DHS Center of
Excellence for the Study of Border
Security and Immigration, Education
Lead Institution.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Tiffany Lightbourn, Program Manager,
University Programs, Science and
Technology Directorate, Department of
Homeland Security, Washington, DC
20528; telephone 202–254–5843,
facsimile 202–254–6179; e-mail
tiffany.lightbourn@dhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Section 308 of the Homeland Security
Act of 2002, Public Law 107–296, (the
‘‘Homeland Security Act’’), as amended
by the Consolidated Appropriations
Resolution 2003, Public Law 108–7, and
as codified in Title 6 of the United
States Code Chapter I Subchapter III
E:\FR\FM\13JNN1.SGM
13JNN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 115 (Friday, June 13, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33834-33835]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-13291]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Office of the Secretary
Notice Designating the University of Rhode Island as a DHS Center
of Excellence for Explosives Detection Mitigation and Response as
Education Lead Institution
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Department of Homeland Security.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security has designated the
University of Rhode Island as a DHS Center of Excellence for Explosives
Detection Mitigation and Response, Education Lead Institution.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas Bauer, Program Manager,
University Programs, Science and Technology Directorate, Department of
Homeland Security, Washington, DC 20528; telephone 202-254-6040,
facsimile 202-254-6179; e-mail doug.bauer@dhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Section 308 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Public Law 107-
296, (the ``Homeland Security Act''), as amended by the Consolidated
Appropriations Resolution 2003, Public Law 108-7, and as codified in
Title 6 of the United States Code Chapter I Subchapter III Section
188(b)(2) [6 U.S.C. 188(b)(2)], directs the Department of Homeland
Security (``Department'') to sponsor extramural research, development,
demonstration, testing and evaluation programs relating to homeland
security. As part of this program, the Department has established a
coordinated system of university-based centers for homeland security
(the ``Centers'').
The Centers are envisioned to be an integral component of the
Department's capability to anticipate, prevent, respond to, and recover
from terrorist attacks. The Centers will leverage multidisciplinary
capabilities and fill gaps in current knowledge.
Title 6 U.S.C. 188(b)(2)(B) lists fourteen areas of substantive
expertise that, if demonstrated, might qualify universities for
designation as
[[Page 33835]]
university-based centers. The listed areas of expertise include: (1)
The training of first responders; (2) responding to incidents involving
weapons of mass destruction and biological warfare; (3) emergency and
diagnostic medical services; (4) chemical, biological, radiological and
nuclear countermeasures or detection; (5) animal and plant health and
diagnostics; (6) food safety; (7) water and wastewater operations; (8)
port and waterway security; (9) multi-modal transportation; (10)
information security and information engineering; (11) engineering;
(12) educational outreach and technical assistance; (13) border and
transportation security; and (14) the public policy implications and
public dissemination of homeland security relevant research and
development. However, the list is not exclusive. 6 U.S.C. 188(b)(2)(C)
gives the Secretary discretion to except certain criteria specified in
6 U.S.C. 188(b)(2)(B) and consider additional criteria beyond those
specified in 6 U.S.C. 188(b)(2)(B) in selecting universities for this
program, as long as the Department issues a Federal Register notice
explaining the criteria used for the designation.
Criteria
In response to Congressional direction contained in the Conference
Report for the Fiscal Year 2007 Department of Homeland Security
Appropriations Act, the DHS Under Secretary for Science and Technology
developed a plan in November 2006 to establish new DHS Centers of
Excellence in high priority science and technology areas which aligned
to the DHS Science and Technology Directorate's research portfolios and
for which DHS determined there were significant gaps in scientific
understanding and technological development. These areas included: 1.
Natural Disasters, Coastal Infrastructure and Emergency Management, 2.
Explosives Detection, Mitigation and Response, 3. Maritime, Island and
Remote Environment Security, and 4. Border Security and Immigration.
Research in these areas will contribute significantly to the
Department's ability to enhance homeland security and the safety of our
citizens from both natural and man-made threats.
The criteria for designation for this new Center of Excellence
(COE) for Explosives Detection Mitigation and Response (EDMR) is
demonstrated expertise in conducting fundamental explosives-related
sciences and engineering research. S&T is establishing the EDMR COE to
conduct research to enhance the Nation's technical capabilities to
detect, prepare for, prevent damages from, respond to, and recover from
terrorist attacks involving explosives. The EDMR COE will collaborate
closely with the DHS/Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate's
Explosives Division, which manages a full-spectrum research and
development (R&D) program from fundamental research to advanced
technologies. The EDMR COE will provide enabling basic research that
will advance the technical tools and information that S&T's customers
will need in the future. The EDMR COE will develop relevant educational
curricula for both matriculated students and career professionals. The
EDMR COE also will participate in S&T's University Network, a
consortium of COEs that share resources and data and collaborate on
research projects to provide cost-effective results to support DHS's
mission.
Announcement of Funding Opportunities and Competition
In February 2007, the Department established a competitive process
and requested white papers and proposals from universities that wished
to be designated as DHS Centers of Excellence in: 1. Natural Disasters,
Coastal Infrastructure and Emergency Management, 2. Explosives
Detection, Mitigation and Response, 3. Maritime, Island and Remote
Environment Security, or 4. Border Security and Immigration. The
funding opportunity announcements for these four Centers of Excellence
were published at https://www.grants.gov on February 4, 2007, as
required by the Office of Management and Budget. In the area of
Explosives Detection Mitigation and Response, DHS received 19 white
papers and evaluated them through a peer-review panel process that
included scientific expertise from the federal government, peer-
institutional faculty, and the private sector. Following the white
paper review, DHS received 5 full proposals by the closing date of July
30, 2007. The 5 full proposals were reviewed by subject matter experts
external to DHS S&T. All 5 full proposals were referred to an internal
review panel of S&T subject matter experts for evaluation, who
recommended site visits at 3 sites. Based on information collected on
these site visits, DHS selected the University of Rhode Island to be
the Education Lead Institution for the Explosives Detection Mitigation
and Response Center of Excellence, in partnership with Northeastern
University (the Research Lead), New Mexico Institute of Mining and
Technology and other affiliated universities.
The University of Rhode Island and its partners will develop
educational programs and conduct basic and transformational research
and on explosives-related issues including explosives properties,
formulation, and characterization; detection of explosives and
explosive devices; sensor materials; unconventional approaches to
identify threats, and other countermeasures. These programs will
include the development and use of explosives research and educational
capabilities at minority-serving institutions.
This team of institutions will become an intrinsic part of the DHS
science and technology portfolio, working closely with DHS and other
federal, state and local governments to reduce potential damages from
floods, hurricanes, and other natural disasters.
Jay M. Cohen,
Under Secretary for Science and Technology, Department of Homeland
Security.
[FR Doc. E8-13291 Filed 6-12-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-10-P
