Draft_Statement_of_Objectives_(SOO)_for_Academia_Day_70RSAT18R00000023.pdf

SOO 70RSAT18R000023

Statement of Objectives Master of Business Administration with a

Concentration in Security Technology Transition

Purpose

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate’s (S&T) Office of University Programs (OUP) is seeking to establish a five-year pilot case study-based Master of Business Administration (MBA) program with a concentration in Security Technology Transition at an accredited U.S. university. The program will be housed at a highly regarded business school and will educate DHS professionals in the fundamental disciplines required of a contemporary MBA curriculum. Additionally, this specialized program will provide additional courses that will train established DHS professionals (and others) to navigate established federal acquisition regulations, experience the research and development (R&D) process from a private sector vantage point, navigate the challenges of technology development and adoption, and advance technologies more efficiently from concept to operational use.

Scope

In addition to the traditional MBA curriculum courses (finance, accounting, management, economics, marketing, communications, etc.), this pilot concentration in Security Technology Transition (STT) Program shall address the following topics, individually or in appropriate combinations:

• Managing Research & Development (R&D) Projects

• Identifying and Specifying Technical Requirements

• Estimating the Return on Investment (ROI) for R&D Projects

• Quantifying the Useful Life of Technology Assets (Equipment and Hardware) and Making

Replacement/Upgrade Decisions

• Conducting Market Research: Supply (competitive environment) and Demand (commercial and government applications)

• Government Acquisition Processes and Timelines

• Research Validation and Technology Testing and Evaluation

• Supply Chain Management (SCM) and Security

• Detection, Screening and Inspection Technologies

• Technology Commercialization

• Intellectual Property Management (including Patents, Ownership/Usage Rights)

• Information Technology and Cyber Security

• Technology for Disaster Management

• Communicating Technology Use and Value

• Overview of FAR Part 35 – Research & Development Contracting

• Applications of Artificial Intelligence

• Data Mining and Future Computing Technologies

• Understanding Security Technology Supporting and Consulting Services

• Assessing New Technologies

The Program shall incorporate case study and capstone projects that engage teams of students, and potentially government and/or commercial partners, to address multi-phase technology challenges.

The Program shall be delivered using online, in person, and/or remote formats.

The Program will consist of seven cohorts of students each consisting of between 18 and 25 DHS employees.

Period of Performance

DHS plans to structure its MBA STT Program into five three-year cohorts staggered over seven years.

The overall base period of performance would be slightly longer than seven years to allow curriculum development to begin in September 2018, selection of the first cohort participants that could begin in December 2018, and the start of classes for the first cohort targeted for August/September 2019. The fifth and final cohort would graduate and bring an end to the program in May 2025.

Place of Performance

The primary place of performance shall be the metropolitan Washington DC area; however, off-site or on-campus residencies and/or industry internship locations may be considered.

Background

The mission of S&T is to “strengthen America’s security and resiliency by providing knowledge products and innovative technology solutions for the Homeland Security Enterprise (HSE).”

While S&T’s work is often identified with technology development, equally important are S&T’s contributions to homeland security in the form of validated analyses or knowledge products. These include:

• Analyses of technology options,

• Assessments of complex issues such as the relative risk of different chemical, biological

(both human and agricultural), radiological and nuclear, and explosive threats, and

Cohort Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6 Year 7

• Operational testing and evaluation of technologies proposed for acquisition.

On October 28, 2011, President Obama signed the Presidential Memorandum “Accelerating Technology Transfer and Commercialization of Federal Research in Support of High-Growth Businesses” that committed each executive department and agency (agency) that conducts R&D to improve the results from its technology transfer and commercialization activities. This required agencies to establish goals and measure performance, streamline administrative processes, and facilitate local and regional partnerships in order to accelerate technology transfer and support private sector commercialization. Also, agencies with Federal laboratories, such as those at DHS, were called upon to develop plans that establish performance goals to increase the number and pace of effective technology transfer and commercialization activities in partnership with non-federal entities, including private firms, research organizations, and non-profit entities.

This MBA STT pilot program satisfies the intents of both of these mandates by improving the technical knowledge and business acumen of DHS professional staff.

Performance Objectives

The performance objectives for this MBA STT Program include:

• Developing the overall program structure and curriculum content (syllabi)

• Identifying key personnel (professors/instructors) for these courses

• Choosing one or more course delivery methods

• Contributing to the student selection process

• Organizing, managing and supporting the student cohorts

• Providing access to university resources

• Facilitating the engagement of students with private sector/industry partners

• Reporting on progress and lessons learned

• Issuing degrees

• Preparing a sustainability plan and suggestions for program improvement

Operating Constraints

Potential operating constraints for this MBA STT Program are:

• Admissions Requirements

• Student Candidate Evaluation and Selection

• Interruption of studies during a cohort session

• Withdrawal/Replacement of a Student

• Travel

• Section 508 Compliance

• Management of sensitive and Personally Identifiable Information (PII)

Applicable Documents

• N/A