2024 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Directorate of Science and Technology (S&T) Long Range Broad Agency Announcement (LRBAA) 24-01

The amended file focuses on national security and resilience, prioritizing research and development initiatives. It removes topics related to identity threats and mobile security, renumbering the remaining mission areas. The revised document emphasizes characterizing agricultural threat agents and defending against animal diseases, plant pests, and crop threats. This shift reflects a refocusing on food security and veterinary defense, with an emphasis on research, testing, and evaluation of countermeasure tools. The amended RFP seeks innovative solutions to strengthen resilience against these threats.

The Department of Homeland Security is hosting an Industry Day event for businesses and innovators interested in responding to the Long Range Broad Agency Announcement (LRBAA) 24-01. The event, held at the ICE Headquarters in Washington, DC, will outline the goals, processes, and available resources for applicants aiming to submit proposals under the LRBAA's current topics. With twenty-three open themes across five mission areas, the LRBAA seeks to engage industry disruptors in developing solutions for the department's various missions. Attendees are required to register by the August 15 deadline and present a government-issued ID upon arrival. Speakers from across the Department will be present to offer guidance and insight into the submission process.

The document comprises the responses to questions posed during a federal government event related to the Long Range Broad Agency Announcement (LRBAA) from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The LRBAA serves as an open invitation for innovative research proposals aimed at addressing specific DHS mission needs. Key points include the acceptance of diverse research concepts, guidance on proposal submission processes, and transparency around proposal evaluations. For instance, companies can submit ideas across multiple topics as long as submissions are unique and adhere to specified guidelines. The document also clarifies the distinction between the LRBAA and the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, emphasizing that the LRBAA is intended for broader research engagements rather than targeted solicitations. Furthermore, it describes the focus areas within the LRBAA, including emerging technologies, interoperability, and transition plans for research into operational solutions. The overall purpose is to facilitate collaboration between the private sector and DHS in pursuing innovative solutions to enhance national security.

The Long Range Broad Agency Announcement (LRBAA) Industry Day, organized by the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate, emphasizes collaboration with industry and academia to address pressing operational needs. The event includes an agenda featuring presentations on the submission process, topic generation, and specific LRBAA initiatives targeting key areas such as counter-terrorism, cybersecurity, and maritime security. Key topics for 2024 include innovative screening technologies, public safety tools for lithium-ion battery incidents, and enhancing maritime domain awareness. The LRBAA serves as an ongoing, open invitation for novel proposals that align with the department's federal priorities, encouraging participation from various entities, including small businesses and academic institutions, while excluding certain service types and mature products from consideration. The document outlines the process for submitting ideas, including abstract, virtual pitch, and written proposals, and crucially underscores the importance of fostering technological advancements to enhance homeland security operations and community resilience.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate's Long Range Broad Agency Announcement (LRBAA) 24-01, Amendment 04, seeks proposals for scientific and technical projects to enhance homeland security capabilities. This five-year announcement, open until May 31, 2029, focuses on three types of research: near-term component gaps (Type I), foundational science (Type II), and future needs/emerging threats (Type III). The LRBAA utilizes a three-step submission process: Industry Engagement, Virtual Pitch, and Written Proposal. Eligibility extends to various entities, including small businesses, and covers six key mission areas, with specific research topics detailed for Counter Terrorism, Border Security, and Cyberspace. The document also outlines detailed submission requirements, evaluation criteria, and award conditions, emphasizing the importance of an adequate accounting system and intellectual property assertions.

Amendment 04 to LRBAA 24-01 outlines a list of topics that have been removed from consideration. These removed topics span various domains critical to government functions and research interests. Key areas include Threat Prevention (CTHOM 02), Public Safety Tools for Lithium Ion Battery Incidents (CTHOM 04), and several topics under BORAP such as Noninvasive, Minimally Disruptive Sensors and Systems (BORAP 02), Air Based Technologies (BORAP 03), Maritime Domain Awareness Technologies (BORAP 05), Immigration Services Program (BORAP 06), Maritime Environment and Climate and Coastal, Port, and Waterway Security (BORAP 08), and Forensics and Criminal Investigations (BORAP 09). Additionally, topics related to cybersecurity and critical infrastructure, like Predictive Analytics (CYBCI 01) and GMD and Nuclear EMP Critical Infrastructure Risk (CYBCI 06), have been removed. Emerging Technologies (PROES 01) and various aspects of community and infrastructure resilience under PRRES, including Technology Acceptance (PRRES 01), Using Internet of Things (IoT) for Community and Infrastructure Resiliency Against All-Hazards (PRRES 02), and Integrating risk sciences and adaptive engineering for community and infrastructure resilience (PRRES 03), are also no longer part of the solicitation. This amendment serves to clarify the scope of the LRBAA 24-01 by explicitly listing the areas no longer being pursued.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate hosted an LRBAA Industry Day to engage scientific and technical communities in addressing DHS operational needs through the Long Range Broad Agency Announcement (LRBAA). This initiative is an open, five-year invitation for novel ideas, with topics updated annually across six DHS mission areas, including Counter Terrorism, Border Security, Cyberspace Security, Economic Security, and Preparedness. The LRBAA accepts Type I (near-term), Type II (foundational science), and Type III (future needs) efforts, leading to various agreements like contracts, grants, and other transactions. The submission process involves a three-phase approach: Industry Engagement (abstract, quad chart, optional video), Virtual Pitch (presentation, updated quad chart, meeting), and Written Proposal (technical and cost proposals). The event also detailed specific topics such as

The document provides responses to questions regarding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Long Range Broad Agency Announcement (LRBAA) 2024 event. It clarifies that LRBAA accepts diverse research ideas for any topic type (Type I, II, or III) and that DHS evaluates potential benefits and costs. The LRBAA is not an RFI process, and initial submissions (Industry Engagement) are a "light lift" for both industry and government to gauge interest, with no detailed feedback provided for non-accepted proposals. Proprietary information is not permitted in the initial Industry Engagement step. The LRBAA is separate from the DHS SBIR program, and there are no set annual topic update months. While individual program managers are not available for pre-submission discussions, resources are provided to help offerors understand DHS needs. The document also addresses topics like AI applicability, funding, the submission process, intellectual property protection, and commercialization pathways, emphasizing that the LRBAA focuses on R&D projects.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science & Technology Directorate’s Office of Industry Partnerships, in collaboration with the DHS Office of Procurement Operations, is hosting a hybrid Long Range Broad Agency Announcement (LRBAA) Industry Day on August 21, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:05 p.m. ET at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Headquarters in Washington, D.C. This event aims to inform innovators and industry disruptors about LRBAA goals, the submission process, and available resources for applicants interested in the 23 open topics under five mission areas for LRBAA 24-01. In-person registration closes on August 15, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. ET. Attendees must present a government-issued ID and arrive early for security check-in. Questions can be directed to LRBAA.Admin@HQ.DHS.GOV.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate has released Amendment 01 to its Long Range Broad Agency Announcement (LRBAA) 24-01, seeking scientific and technical projects to enhance homeland security capabilities. This five-year announcement, open until May 31, 2029, focuses on three research types: Type I (Near-Term Component), Type II (Foundational Science), and Type III (Future Needs and Emerging Threats). The LRBAA outlines a three-step submission process: Industry Engagement, Virtual Pitch, and Written Proposal. Eligibility extends to various entities, including small businesses, with an emphasis on unclassified submissions. The document details priority research topics across six key mission areas, including Counter Terrorism, Border Security, Cyberspace Security, Economic Security, Preparedness and Resilience, and DHS Workforce. Specific topics within these areas range from developing tools for Machine Learning algorithms in threat detection to enhancing maritime domain awareness and cybersecurity. The process emphasizes a phased evaluation, with invitations for subsequent steps dependent on initial assessments and funding availability. Submissions are made via the DHS S&T Office of Industry Partnerships (OIP) portal.

Amendment 01 to LRBAA 24-01, issued on June 18, 2024, announces the removal of several research topics from the announcement. The removed topics include CYBCI 02 (Countering Identity Threats), CYBCI 04 (Mobile Security and Resiliency R&D), PROES 02 (Laboratory Research to Characterize Agricultural Threat Agents), PRRES 01 (Research, Testing and Evaluation of Food, Agriculture and Veterinary Defense Prototype Countermeasure Tools), and PRRES 02 (Research, Development, Testing and Evaluation of Food and Agriculture Defense Tools and Technologies for Plant or Crop Diseases and Pests). Following these removals, the remaining topics within the amended announcement have been renumbered according to their respective mission areas. This amendment indicates a modification to the scope of research areas being solicited for proposals or grants.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate has announced its Long Range Broad Agency Announcement (LRBAA) 24-01, a five-year initiative open until May 31, 2029. Its purpose is to fund scientific and technical projects that enhance the Department's operational capabilities and the Homeland Security Enterprise across various science and engineering disciplines. Research concepts are sought under three types: Type I (Near-Term Component) for identified DHS component gaps, Type II (Foundational Science) for enduring research leading to actionable data, and Type III (Future Needs and Emerging Threats) for exploring solutions to emerging threats. The LRBAA explicitly excludes support services, evaluation of other contractors, research consortia, and mature products. Awards may include research and development contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and other transactions agreements. The submission process involves a three-step evaluation: Industry Engagement, Virtual Pitch, and Written Proposal. Eligibility is broad, including private sector, government laboratories, FFRDCs, and academic institutions, with encouragement for small businesses. The announcement outlines specific research topics within key mission areas such as Counter Terrorism and Homeland Security Threats, Secure U.S. Borders and Approaches, Secure Cyberspace and Critical Infrastructure, Preserve and Uphold the Nation’s Prosperity and Economic Security, and Strengthen Preparedness and Resilience.