13.2_QA_5.13.13.pdf

ID# Topic Area Question Answer

1 H-SB013.2-

1. Are you looking for Chemical Nose-type detectors that can sniff out bills?

(similar to Money Dogs)?

2. It is difficult to find information on the type of ink (volatile chemical) used in bills (May be it is a classified information). I found an old patent with this information on United States Patent 5,100,934, March 31, 1992 with some information and the reference http://moneyfactory.gov/uscurrency/theproductionprocess.html. Will it be acceptable to build sensor chemicals presumed to be in the dollar bills? Do you have any other information on the type of volatile chemicals found in the dollar bills?

3. Another approach is to use chemicals such as cocaine which are known to be present in 90% of dollar bills (J Anal Toxicol. 1996 Jul-Aug;20(4):213-6. Cocaine contamination of United States paper currency). Can we use cocaine as taggant for dollar bills?

4. Third option is to use non-destructive techniques such as Static Headspace Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry(SHS-GC–MS) to identify the signature chemicals from dollar bills. Is this an appropriate method?

1. We are looking for a system that can collect, then process a sample, and detect a signature that uniquely identifies currency in a bag, a car, and in rail and shipping containers.

2. Please see the Vu paper referenced in the announcement.

3. Cocaine by itself may not be enough of a unique indicator to detect currency.

There has to be some corroborating signature as well.

4. You may want to us the phase I as an opportunity to explore the signature space and identify method(s) to detect those signatures.

2 H-SB013.2-

1.Which organizations in DHS would have an application for the technology being developed in this SBIR effort?

2.Which organization(s) are initial targets?

3.Which organization(s) are subsequent targets?

4.Who are the appropriate contact individuals in these organizations?

5.Are there specific standards to which DHS wishes the SBIR developed technology or SBIR effort conform?

1.It is envisioned that this technology could be leveraged by all Federal Departments and Agencies currently using mobile devices.

2. Specific agencies have not been targeted, however the general usage targeted is for non-classified communication.

3. A broadly applicable solution is desired and specific organizations have not been targeted.

4. A broadly applicable solution is desired and specific organizations have not been targeted.

5. A solution should ideally meet the relevant federal security controls for its proposed usage.

3 H-SB013.2-

Is DHS S&T interested in an Unmanned Vehicle/Unmanned System option for the Lost Person Locator for First Responders topic?

We are looking at addressing this topic from the perspective of the “first on scene” officer or rescue person who may have limited access to technology and no or limited experience with Search and Rescue (SAR).

The use of advanced technologies such as UAVs is beyond the scope of this SBIR topic as we view this as not being available to most agencies involved in this type of work, especially in the crucial first few minutes and hours.

DHS SBIR-2013.2 Question and Answer Matrix

DHS S&T SBIR

4 H-SB013.2-

Is the mapping technology side of this solicitation essential, or is that an item that should be addressed in the Phase I feasibility studies?

The mapping technology is not a critical element of this SBIR topic, however, this can be addressed in the Phase I effort.

5 H-SB013.2-

1. Is it acceptable to distinguish between a counterfeit and genuine product by identifying measurable differences in physical properties, or must the authentication method determine the actual materials used in the products?

2. A big component of the Phase I effort is to identify consumer goods for which authentication methods should be developed and qualified based on their impact in the marketplace. Is there a preferred example of high-value goods for use as a test case? Would consumer and military electronics be an acceptable test case?

3.. Are there preferred points in the supply chain where you favor implementing the authentication procedure or are you looking for methods at all points in the supply chain?

4. Do you have any targets for the implementation cost?

1. Just to tell if it is a genuine article or not. We do not need to know the actual materials in either the genuine or counterfeit article.

2. Yes, there are published reports in the media of seized counterfeit articles and high priority articles CBP is looking for.

3. Upon entering a US port is preferred.

4. No.

6 H-SB013.2-

Can you provide examples of retail products you are most interested in testing? Yes, there are published reports in the media of seized counterfeit articles and high priority articles CBP is looking for.

7 H-SB013.2-

Are you specifically looking at improved ways to automate machine detection of existing materials as implied by the following statement; "One of the key observables lending itself to automated-machine detection is testing for inferior-grade materials" - or are you open to pursuing technologies that in some way changed the materials and/or packaging (at the point of manufacturing) and made them easy to classify remotely by machines?

For this effort, we are looking specifically for technologies to differentiate between counterfeit and legitimate goods. In the future, we may develop the relationships with vendors to pursue taggants or some other authentication method(s).

8 H-SB013.2-

Is it appropriate to describe an envisioned Phase II technical solution in the Phase I proposal, or should we limit ourselves to describing how we intend to go about collecting the inventory of existing IT tools for emergency response?

Phase I proposals may include a detailed approach to a Phase II technical solution, but keep in mind the page limitation given that this is a Phase I proposal.

9 H-SB013.2-

Are there any particular constraints (e.g. availability of power and/or various networks) which should be assumed in the mass casualty environment and addressed in the proposal?

Phase I proposal may address all potential mass casualty triage scenarios to include loss of public utilities and limited network availability.

10 H-SB013.2-

Is the objective of the effort solely to track patients, or is there interest in tracking first responders as well?

The objective is patient tracking for this announcement.

11 H-SB013.2-

Is the desired outcome of Phase I just a report describing the research findings, or should we also develop a design of the system to be built in Phase II?

Phase I proposal may include a detailed approach to a Phase II technical solution, but keep in mind this is a Phase I proposal.

12 H-SB013.2-

Are there any particular IC systems or Patient Care reporting systems that we need to evaluate and/or integrate with?

Phase I proposal may address integration – to include transmit, upload, or export of patient records into a Patient Care Reporting system in use by FEMA.

13 H-SB013.2-

How critical is it that the proposed solution be usable with EMS or Fire PPE? The objective is a technical solution to be used by the Emergency Services sector.

14 H-SB013.2-

Is it assumed that the time and O&M burdens associated with the solution will be greater than current non-IT methods?

That is not an accurate assumption.

15 H-SB013.2-

How important is it to reuse commodity components identified during Phase I in the Phase II solution? (i.e. if a potential solution is identified that requires greater initial development but promises improved performance and/reduced cost, is that still a viable approach)?

The technical solution may involve the reuse of commodity components or it may involve new technologies – that is your discretion.

16 H-SB013.2-

Does the solution need to utilize RFID tags? The technical solution may involve RFID tags, or it may involve new technologies – that is your discretion.

17 General Do you know if DHS has a sample Phase I proposal online for reference. No. Please refer to the FY13.2 Solicitation, Section 3.5, for the Phase I Proposal Format.

18 General In compliance with DCAA (Defense Contract Audit Agency) we have separate FRINGE and OVERHEAD pools, thus costs; we would like to have the Government’s direction on how to fill in the DHS SBIR Phase 1 Cost Proposal Form (Section B) for both of the FRINGE and OVERHEAD costs.

Annotate in the Cost Proposal, Section 3 (overhead cost), the Fringe rate and the overhead rate separately. Section 3. (a) combine any rates (Fringe and overhead) that are applied to the total direct labor cost.

19 General The cover page asks for % of time for the key personnel. Is this the % of total time available to the personnel (i.e xx hrs on proposed SBIR effort divided by total hours in a year) or % of time for the key personnel relative to total hours proposed for the SBIR effort (i.e. individual Key personnel hrs/total hours proposed)?

It is referring to the percentage of effort the key individual will contribute to the project (key individual’s proposed number of hours / total proposed number of hours for the proposed project).

20 General Is 13.2 particular award open to STTR as well as SBIR, or is it only SBIR? The DHS Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate does not participate in the STTR Program, therefore the DHS S&T SBIR FY13.2 solicitation is strictly for the SBIR Program.

21 General Item 3.5.b.8 Commercialization Strategy instructions imply that the Phase I proposal needs to include results from market research and market projections. Is it acceptable for a Phase I Proposal to address strategies that will be undertaken to investigate and respond to these topics (as compared to including actual results from market research and market projections)?

Yes, it is acceptable to address marketing strategies, but the strategies must reflect the specific topic area being addressed.

22 General Is the Appendix B Briefing Chart limited to a one (1) 8 ½ x 11” page, 12 point font, 1” margin restriction format?

a. Is there a web URL where a completed mandatory briefing chart can be viewed on-line for format and content?

Yes, the briefing chart is limited to a one (1) 8 ½ x 11” page, 12 point font, 1” margin restriction format.

A sample briefing chart is not available, but the template can be located on page 87 of the FY13.2 Solicitation.