SwRI Seeks Homeland Security Partners

SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 23, 2003--With threats of terrorism continuing to alarm the public and potentially endanger the nation, the Department of Homeland Security has been charged with creating a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) in response to the Homeland Security Act of 2002. Southwest Research Institute(R) intends to compete for this new FFRDC as the prime contractor and is currently seeking teaming partners, particularly Texas colleges and universities already involved in homeland security programs.

Dr. Katharine Golas, vice president of the SwRI Training, Simulation and Performance Improvement Division, leads the SwRI effort.

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"This will certainly be a highly competitive procurement," she says, "but there are numerous organizations in and around the state that we believe can help make us the strongest possible competitor, provide the Department of Homeland Security with the best source of talent and see that this FFRDC is located in Texas."

Long before September 11, 2001, SwRI had been involved in several security programs for the Department of Defense and other federal agencies, as well as commercial clients. Since then, the Institute's program has expanded to include research and development of first responder and rapid response technologies, counter-terrorism technologies, and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear (CBRN) training and simulation.

SwRI also has significant experience running an FFRDC. Since 1987, the Institute has operated the Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses (CNWRA) to provide high-quality technical assistance and research in support of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) as it seeks a long-term solution for disposal of the nation's spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste. The CNWRA currently employs 80 researchers and support staff members and operates on an annual budget of approximately $16 million.

"Under the operation of SwRI, the CNWRA has received the highest evaluations from its sponsor, as well as independent review groups," says Walt Downing, SwRI executive vice president of Operations. "We continue to provide the NRC with exceptional technical competence, stability, and independent objective analyses and recommendations on complex technical issues."

FFRDCs are typically established on the basis of congressional legislation that mandates the development of a center to examine long-term, long-range research problems. These centers provide expertise often used to determine government planning and research priorities.

This FFRDC, to be called the Homeland Security Institute (HSI), will perform risk analyses, simulations of threat scenarios, analyses of possible countermeasures and strategic plans for counter-terrorism technology development.

"Preliminary information indicates the HSI may be limited to current FFRDC operators," says Golas. "As the only FFRDC operator in Texas, SwRI is well positioned to lead the development of this center."

SwRI is currently in discussion with Texas-based colleges, universities and commercial organizations, and will soon announce a workshop for participants interested in joining the SwRI team. The workshop will be a venue for interested parties to demonstrate and discuss their capabilities in homeland security to help determine their role on the SwRI team.

Because an FFRDC generally has access to government and supplier data, employees and facilities beyond normal contractual relationships, team members will be expected to satisfy special security and conflict-of-interest requirements.

For information about joining the SwRI team, contact Golas at 210-522-2094 or kgolas@swri.org.

SwRI is an independent, nonprofit, applied research and development organization based in San Antonio, Texas, with more than 2,800 employees and an annual research volume of more than $339 million.