Under Secretary Cohen's Testimony - Customer / Output Focused

The S&T Directorate functions as the science and technology manager within the Department.  We invest in science and technology that supports DHS components in their efforts to protect our homeland against catastrophic events — technology that makes the Nation safer. In the last six months, we have established meaningful working relationships with our DHS operational component customers.  As they appear before you this year, I encourage you to ask them about the ways that S&T is addressing their operational needs.  Thanks to the support of the Congress and the leadership of the Department, we are gaining significant momentum, and I humbly ask for your continued trust and support so that we can build on those efforts.

The S&T Directorate develops and manages an integrated program of science and technology, from basic research through technology transition to customers that are the operating components of DHS, State, local and tribal governments, first responders and private sector entities.  The managers of this program are predominantly active scientists and engineers in the many disciplines relevant to Homeland Security.  They are guided by a multi-tiered investment strategy and review process based on higher guidance, the stated needs of our customers, and technology opportunities.

The President's FY 2008 Budget Request includes $86 million for the basic research portfolio which addresses the long-term R&D needs for the Department in sciences of enduring relevance to Homeland Security.  The transition portfolio, designed to provide mission-capability relevant technology in support of the Department's acquisition programs, is driven by customer needs through a DHS customer-led IPT process.  The President has requested $343 million in FY 2008 for this effort.  The Director of HSARPA administers the $73 million innovation portfolio (includes the Small Business Innovation Research program) to promote revolutionary changes in technologies with a focus on prototyping and deploying technologies critical to homeland security.  This portfolio, balanced around risk, cost, impact and time to delivery, produces capabilities of high technical quality responsive to homeland security requirements.

DHS Science & Technology Investment Portfolio

Basic Research (> 8 years)

The S&T Directorate's basic research portfolio addresses long-term research and development needs in support of DHS mission areas that will provide the Nation with an enduring capability in homeland security.  This type of focused, protracted research investment has the potential to lead to paradigm shifts in the nation's homeland security capabilities.

The S&T Directorate's basic research program enables fundamental research at our universities, government laboratories and in the private sector. Approximately $95 million is allocated for basic research in FY 2007 and $86 million, 13 percent, is allocated in FY 2008.  Eventually, I would like up to 20 percent of the S&T Directorate budget allocated for basic research.  It is critical that basic research be funded at consistent levels from year to year to ensure a continuity of effort from the research community in critical areas that will seed homeland security science and technology for the next generation of Americans and prevent technological surprise.

Product Transition (0 to 3 years)

The centerpiece of the S&T Directorate's product transition portfolio are Capstone Integrated Product Teams (IPT) that function in mission-critical areas to identify our customers' needs and enable and transition near-term capabilities for addressing them.  These Capstone IPTs engage DHS customers, acquisition partners, S&T technical division heads, and end users as appropriate in our product research, development, transition and acquisition activities.

The IPT process enables our customers to identify and prioritize their operational capability gaps and requirements and make informed decisions about technology investments. The S&T Directorate, in turn, gathers the information it needs to respond with applicable technology solutions for closing these capability gaps.  The science and technology solutions that are the outcome of this process, referred to as Enabling Homeland Capabilities, draw upon technologies that can be developed, matured, and delivered to our customer acquisition programs within three years.

Capstone IPTs have been established in 10 major areas: Information Sharing/Management; Cyber Security; People Screening; Border Security; Chemical/Biological Defense; Maritime Security; Explosive Prevention; Cargo Security; Infrastructure Protection; and Incident Management (includes first responder interoperability).

DHS Requirements/Capability Capstone IPTs

The S&T Directorate's product transition/IPT process ensures that appropriate technologies are engineered and integrated into the DHS acquisition system for our customers.  Approximately $343 million is allocated for product transition for FY 2008, a little over 50 percent of my budget.

The IPT process has created an excellent forum for the S&T Directorate to gain a better understanding of the most important issues of our customer agencies.  Another tangible benefit of this Capstone IPT process has been improved coordination in addressing common functional challenges across the Department.  This is due in large measure to the enthusiastic participation of DHS agency heads such as TSA Administrator Kip Hawley, Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan, and Border Patrol Chief David Aguilar and many other DHS leaders who have all personally chaired the IPTs relevant to their interests.

In FY 2008, the S&T Directorate plans to transition or transfer four programs that pre-date the IPT process.  These programs have reached technical maturity and will be transferred to other DHS agencies who will be responsible for their continued operation.  The budget request reflects the transfer to the Office of Health Affairs of the operations portions of BioWatch 1 & 2, the Biological Warning and Incident Characterization (BWIC) system, and the Rapidly Deployable Chemical Detection System, totaling $84.1 million.  Moving the operations portions of BioWatch out of S&T allows us to focus on completing the development of BioWatch 3.  BioWatch is a bio-aerosol monitoring system designed to provide cities the earliest possible detection of a biological attack.  BWIC interprets warning signals from BioWatch and public health surveillance data using incident characterization tools (e.g., plume and epidemiological models) to quickly determine the potential impacts a release may have.  Together, these two systems provide emergency personnel with the information they need to respond effectively and initiate life-saving medical countermeasures. In addition, the FY 2008 budget request reflects the transfer of the SAFECOM program to the National Protection and Programs Directorate, totaling $5.0 million.

It is important that the S&T Directorate also engage the emergency responder community and address operational issues to help them do their jobs more quickly, effectively and safely.  S&T's Technology Clearinghouse and TechSolutions initiatives provide direct support to emergency responders' technology needs.  The Technology Clearinghouse, created in accordance with a provision of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, is designed to be a "one-stop shop" for access to technology information for Federal, State, and local public safety and first responder communities.  TechSolutions provides a Web-based mechanism for responders to register their input regarding capability gaps that need to be addressed to help them in their jobs.  S&T responds by identifying existing technology that may meet the need, or if nothing is available, proceeding with the rapid prototyping of an appropriate solution to be fielded in less than 18 months.  S&T also houses the Office for Interoperability and Communications, which aims to increase levels of emergency responder interoperability by developing tools and methodologies, as well as advancing standards that emergency response agencies can put into effect.

Innovative Capabilities (2 to 5 years)

S&T's Innovation/HSARPA portfolio supports a key goal of mine for the Directorate in its efforts to put advanced capabilities into the hands of our customers as soon as possible.  It has made important inroads in research areas aligned with our DHS customers.  Toward this end, S&T has introduced two important new initiatives. One of these, Homeland Innovative Prototypical Solutions (HIPS) are designed to deliver prototype-level demonstrations of game-changing technologies within two to five years.

The second initiative, High Impact Technology Solutions (HITS), is designed to provide proof-of-concept solutions within one to three years that could result in high-payoff technology breakthroughs.  While these projects are very high-risk, they offer the potential for "leap-ahead" gains in capability should they succeed. While projects are separately budgeted in "Innovation/HSARPA" (based on moderate to high risk with a high payoff, if successful), ALL are executed within the six technical divisions.

The S&T Directorate also continues to manage an active Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program on behalf of DHS that currently issues two solicitations each year and generates multiple awards for the small business community. The first solicitation for FY 2007 opens in mid-February and the second solicitation is planned for release in May. The solicitations will address topics in areas that are aligned with the six technical divisions.

The Innovation/HSARPA portfolio is receiving $60 million in FY 2008 funding for the innovative/leap-ahead HIPS and HITS projects.  Because of the short timeline for HIPS and HITS, we anticipate that these projects will respond to the urgent needs of the DHS components for solutions to fill capability gaps.