Counterterrorism office seeks array of technologies.

• Author: Tadjdeh, Yasmin
• Position: Homeland Security News

The Defense Department office charged with developing technologies to tackle some of the most challenging counterterrorism problems released its annual wish list. Devices to defeat improvised bombs and chemical and biological weapons are among its most acute needs.

The Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office uses rapid research, advanced studies and technical innovation to combat terrorism and irregular adversaries. The office incorporates numerous divisions that focus on different topics ranging from forensics to improvised explosive devices, each with their own critical needs.

The chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive arm of the office is looking to acquire new systems in the coming year such as a sampling device that can collect nanogram-levels of explosives on the fly, training and simulation programs, and gear that can suck up dangerous biological agents, said Program Manager Christina Baxter.

The training program should focus on the basic science of explosives detection, Baxter said. It should be a true simulation program that incorporates virtual environments, graphics and videos and not just a series of PowerPoint presentations, she said during CTTSO's annual advanced planning briefing for industry.

"What I don't want is to ... [give] the operator a Ph.D. in explosive detection. What I do want is to teach them how to best operate their system," Baxter said. "[That way] they get ... that repeated, repetitive training they need."

Once completed, CBRNE intends to distribute the system to members of the explosive community, she said.

CBRNE is also seeking a new scalable vacuum evidentiary powder collection device. Collecting powder-based biological samples is difficult because it can be tough to gather small quantities, Baxter said.

Biological sampling was used during the 2001 anthrax attack that killed five people after they were exposed to the bacteria spores. The attack demonstrated the hazards of handling biological agents and the need to recover as much as possible for forensic analysis, said CTTSO materials.

The device would need to collect and preserve a powder-based biological agent from a number of surfaces and scenarios, Baxter said. It should also be able to collect anywhere from 10 milligrams to 1 gram of powder. It needs to be portable, weigh between seven and 10 pounds and scalable to accommodate different quantities of powder. It should also have a sterile and sealable collection chamber, Baxter...