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Project Title:

Evaluating Testing, Costs, and Benefits of Advanced Spectroscopic Portals
PIN: NRSB-O-08-01-A        

Major Unit:

Division on Earth and Life Studies

Sub Unit: Nuclear and Radiation Studies Board

RSO: Lowenthal, Micah

Subject/Focus Area: Computers and Information Technology; Conflict and Security issues; Engineering and Technology; National Security and Defense; Transportation and Infrastructure


Project Scope
The National Academies will evaluate the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office's assessments of the performance of advanced spectroscopic portals (ASPs), including costs and benefits of the systems, in support of the Secretary of Homeland Security's decision on certification of ASPs for procurement for secondary screening of cargo for nuclear and radiological materials and weapons. If the committee sees no significant differences between deployment for primary screening and secondary screening, it is asked to comment on that, too.
Specifically, the chairman of the National Research Council will appoint a committee of experts to perform tasks addressing the Secretary of Homeland Security's requirements for certification of advanced spectroscopic portals (ASPs) for secondary screening and, to the extent possible, for primary screening. The committee will evaluate the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office's (DNDO's) ASP assessments, performance tests, and analyses. Specifically the committee will
- Evaluate the adequacy of the DNDO's past testing and analyses of the ASP systems;
- Evaluate the scientific rigor and robustness of DNDO's testing and analysis approach;
- Evaluate DNDO's cost benefit analysis of ASP technology.

This project is sponsored by the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) in the Department of Homeland Security. The approximate starting date for the project is 4/21/2008. A Final Report will be issued in approximately 4.5 months. The whole project is expected to last 9 months. 8/2009: The project has been extended to allow us to obtain additional information and complete the final report.

NOTE: The DHS timeline for testing and evaluation has changed and the report is expected to be delivered in November 2008.

UPDATE (12/01/2008): The project duration is being extended because of additional tasking and one or more reports will be issued in 2009.


 
Project Duration: 9 months    

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Contact the Public Access Records Office to make an inquiry, request a list of the public access file materials, or obtain a copy of the materials found in the file.


Committee Membership
Committee Membership

Meetings
 Meeting 1 - 05/22/2008
 Meeting 2 - 06/19/2008
 Meeting 3 - 07/17/2008
 Meeting 4 - 07/21/2008
 Meeting 5 - 07/22/2008
 Meeting 6 - 08/07/2008
 Meeting 7 - 08/13/2008
 Meeting 8 - 09/19/2008
 Meeting 9 - 10/07/2008
 Meeting 10 - 12/08/2008
 Meeting 11 - 12/19/2008
 Meeting 12 - 01/12/2009
 Meeting 13 - 03/23/2009
 Meeting 14 - 04/13/2009

Reports

Reports having no URL can be seen
at the Public Access Records Office
Evaluating Testing, Costs, and Benefits of Advanced Spectroscopic Portals for Screening Cargo at Ports of Entry: Interim Report


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