Description
Program Synopsis: The DHS Science and Technology Directorate Office of University Programs (OUP) requests applications from U.S. colleges and universities to serve as a lead institution for a university-based Center of Excellence (COE) focusing on research, education and technology transition in Explosives Research (CER Lead Institution). This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) requests applications to serve as a lead institution, i.e., Center Lead. Applicants for lead institution need to include in their application their proposed research projects from their institution and their partner institutions, as well as management, education and transition approaches. DHS is also posting a separate FOA for eligible applicants to submit single project proposals for consideration as a partner to the CER COE. The FOA will bear the title, "Center for Explosives Research (CER) - Partner." See eligibility information for partner institutions. As appropriate to meet its needs, DHS may add partner institutions to the successful COE Lead institution from applications received for the Center Lead FOA or from the Partner FOA, provided an applicant's proposal successfully passes merit and DHS relevancy reviews. This COE will conduct research to enhance the Nations technical capabilities to prepare for, characterize, and detect threat materials from any terrorist attack involving explosives. The COE will also develop relevant educational curricula for both matriculated students and mid-career professionals. The COE will collaborate with the DHS/S&T Directorates Explosives Division, which manages a full-spectrum research and development (R&D) program from fundamental research to applied technologies. This COE will provide basic research that will enable development of the technical tools and information that S&Ts partners will need in the future. This COE will also participate in the DHS S&T University Network, a consortium of COEs that share resources and data, and collaborate on research projects in order to provide cost-effective results to support DHS mission. This COE will be a multi-disciplinary university-based research and education Center that will conduct rigorous, innovative and path-breaking explosives-related research. DHS expects this COE to break new theoretical and empirical ground as well as adapt existing approaches to advance knowledge of explosive materials and detection sensors and systems. Research methods proposed under this funding opportunity should be rooted in rigorous science and engineering disciplines. Knowledge generated by this COE's research must be amenable to integration with other detection sensors, sensor systems, and advanced algorithm capabilities as part of security screening systems for multiple mass transit modes and venues. As a whole, the portfolio of proposed projects should generate substantial original and cutting edge research results. This will enable the development of valuable technologies and advanced algorithms for screening system developers and other relevant customers. This COE must assemble interdisciplinary teams that could include mathematicians, chemists, physical scientists or engineers to develop new detection approaches or enabling technologies to counter the explosives-related threats to mass transit modes. DHS expects that this COE will increase our capacity to understand, characterize, and detect explosive threats. In addition, the COE should have the capacity and intent to design, develop and demonstrate new sensor system concepts. The COE must also develop feasible pathways from research to implementation through government or private sector channels. Finally, DHS expects the COE to develop new and innovative content and learning approaches to enable students to understand and analyze explosive threats and technologies that will be needed by DHS customers in the future. The COE should produce a cadre of well-trained students with the skills the nation needs to better anticipate and counter explosives-related risks. The DHS University Network is a consortium of COEs that work together to solve complex homeland security problems. This COE will be a fully integrated component of the network of COEs and will take advantage of the network's resources to develop mission-critical research, education and transition programs. CER applicants should plan to: (1) integrate proposed work with that of other COEs as appropriate; and (2) develop methods to ensure that CER work leverages and complements, but does not duplicate the investigations or data collection efforts of other COEs. Center Lead Applicants are encouraged to carefully consider the scope and range of research proposed and develop a research program that is coherent overall and consistent with available resources and personnel. Successful proposals must be comprehensive and address all Research Focus/Theme areas. Proposals do not necessarily need to address every topic within a theme area. Applicants should explain how their proposed research activities will be conducted in an unclassified, academic environment, and any unique testing or laboratory facilities that will be required to safely conduct the research. Successful applicants will be required to convene a panel of subject matter experts to review the planned Homemade Explosives (HME) research activities that will be conducted at academic partners and make recommendations to the Center Lead institution on appropriate level of research with actual HME mixtures or compounds. Applicants must also demonstrate a comprehensive researcher safety program that meets or exceeds the Office of University Programs requirements. Additional information found in Full Announcement.