Screening of Palletized Air Cargo Emerging Technologies | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the purpose of this DHS Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)?

This BAA is intended to fund research and development of emerging technologies that can screen palletized air cargo for potential improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The focus is on advancing equipment and methods that can inspect consolidated cargo built onto standard aircraft pallets in realistic cargo-processing environments.

2) What specific cargo format is the technology expected to screen?

The BAA targets consolidated cargo built on standard aircraft pallets measuring roughly 40 x 48 x 60 inches, with pallet weights up to about 3,500 pounds.

3) What is the intended operational setting for the proposed technologies?

The intended setting is real-world cargo processing by airlines and other regulated entities, supporting pre-shipment screening for cargo that may be loaded onto passenger aircraft. The effort emphasizes meeting both security requirements and operational throughput constraints.

4) What threat type is DHS focused on detecting?

The central threat of interest is improvised explosive devices (IEDs) potentially hidden within palletized air cargo.

5) Why is detecting IEDs in palletized cargo considered technically challenging?

DHS highlights that IEDs can be built using many different components and configurations, and palletized loads are densely packed with mixed materials. Shielding, clutter, and complex contents can obscure signatures and make detection harder than screening individual parcels.

6) What kinds of IED components and variations does DHS expect proposals to consider?

The BAA notes IEDs may include commercial, military, or improvised initiation circuitry; a variety of power sources; different initiation devices (such as detonators); and different explosive main-charge materials. Proposals are expected to address variability in signatures arising from these differences.

7) Is this opportunity looking for incremental improvements or new approaches?

The BAA is framed as an “emerging technologies” effort, indicating interest in innovative approaches that can improve detection performance while remaining feasible for deployment in cargo operations.

8) What agency is offering this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through its Office of Procurement Operations, Grants Division.

9) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?

The Funding Opportunity Number is BAA10-19.

10) What CFDA number applies to this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 97.108, titled “Homeland Security: Research, Testing, Evaluation, and Demonstration of Technologies.”

11) What types of award instruments may DHS use under this BAA?

DHS lists multiple possible award instruments, including cooperative agreements, grants, “other,” and procurement contracts.

12) How many awards did DHS anticipate making?

DHS anticipated making about two awards under this announcement.

13) How much total funding is available under the program?

The estimated total program funding is $3,000,000.

14) What is the expected size of individual awards?

Individual awards are expected to range from an award floor of $1,500,000 up to an award ceiling of $3,000,000.

15) Is cost sharing or matching required?

Yes. A cost sharing or matching requirement applies, so applicants should plan to contribute some portion of project costs in line with the full announcement’s requirements and instructions.

16) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as open to all responsible sources. The BAA is open to single organizations or teams that may include academia, private-sector companies, government laboratories, and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), including Department of Energy national laboratories and centers.

17) What applicant organization types are explicitly listed as eligible?

The eligible categories listed include nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses), and small businesses.

18) Are collaborative teams allowed or encouraged?

The BAA indicates eligibility includes both single organizations and teams spanning multiple sectors. This suggests DHS is open to collaborative teams that combine relevant technical capability and operational experience.

19) When was the opportunity posted and created?

The opportunity was posted and created on July 15, 2010.

20) What was the application closing date?

The original and current closing date listed is August 2, 2010.

21) When was the opportunity archived?

The archive date listed is September 1, 2010.

22) Where do applicants register to participate?

Organizations seeking to participate were required to register through the DHS BAA portal at https://baa.st.dhs.gov/.

23) Did DHS recommend registering early?

Yes. DHS encouraged early registration, reflecting that portal access steps and submission prerequisites may take time to complete before the deadline.

24) How can applicants find the full announcement if they need help locating it?

The announcement points applicants to an additional information link with instructions to locate the BAA by searching within DHS listings (by agency and then Office of Procurement Operations).

25) Who should applicants contact with questions or if they cannot access the announcement electronically?

DHS provided a dedicated contact email for inquiries and access issues: BAA10_19@dhs.gov.

26) What kind of screening mission does this BAA support?

The BAA supports pre-shipment screening for cargo that may be loaded on passenger aircraft, where strong security performance and acceptable throughput are both critical considerations.

27) What is the core technical emphasis for proposals?

Based on the description, proposals are expected to address detection of variable IED threats within densely packed pallet loads, where mixed materials, clutter, and shielding can reduce detectability, and to do so in a way that remains practical for real cargo operations.