William J. Hughes Technical Center, FAA Aviation Research Grant Program. Atlantic City Int'l Airport, NJ 08405

A -- TRACE BASED AUTOMATED LUGGAGE SYSTEM. SOL DTFA03- DUE 112596 POC Martha Snyderwine, AAR-510, (609)485-6752 Judith Huggard, (609) 485-4368 Clare Nanni, (609) 485-6970. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) William J. Hughes Technical Center announces the availability of a solicitation requesting applications for a grant to design a Trace Based Automated Luggage Explosive Detection System. The FAA intends to enter into one or more cooperative agreements, or to make one or more grants, or establish a combination of such arrangements, to support this research. The intent of this project is to stimulate the development of a trace based system that meets or exceeds present FAA Certification Criteria. The FAA is authorized under Section 107 of the Aviation Security Improvement Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-604) to award grants for the research, development, and implementation of technologies and procedures to counteract terrorist attacks against civil aviation. This solicitation invites proposals from eligible applicants to enter into a grant or cooperative agreement for the development of a trace based explosives detection system (EDS) for checked passenger baggage. Currently, only one EDS device based on computed tomography has been certified by the FAA. The goal of this project is the development of an alternative to the CT-based system and thus foster competition in the EDS market. Greater competition should lead to lower prices, greater innovation, and ultimately, greater safety for the air traveler. Trace based detectors have successfully demonstrated their ability to identify explosives by analysis of their vapor or particulate residue. The residue is easily found on any surface that the explosive has been exposed to. Typical examples are on a person's skin, clothing, or luggage. The particulate samples are collected manually and then analyzed automatically. Trace explosives detection technology is much less costly than the current bulk explosives systems and, therefore, makes it inherently more attractive from an economic standpoint. However, current commercially available systems are not automatic and thus, are time and labor intensive to use. Automation of the sample acquisition, without the need for manual intervention is needed in order to meet the throughput rates required in the EDS standard for checked passenger luggage. This solicitation invites applicants to submit proposals to develop an automated explosives trace detection system. The proposal should cover the methodology and technical approaches for the following developmental phases: (a) Preliminary Design Phase, (b) Final Design Phase, and (c) Prototype Fabrication and Testing Phase. The target throughput rate is 600-700 bags per hour and the target unit cost is approximately $250,000 or less per deployable unit. The performance period for the grant is not to exceed 24 months from the date of award. The developed prototype will be designed to detect specific explosive categories within the FAA's EDS Standard. The categories will be announced at a meeting open to all interested applicants. This meeting will be held approximately three weeks after the publication of this announcement, at Building 315, FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center, Atlantic City International Airport, New Jersey. The exact details of the date and time of these meetings will be provided in the solicitation publication. The closing date for the receipt of the grants proposals is November 25, 1996. For more information of a technical nature, call Martha Snyderwine, AAR-510, at (609) 485-6752 (Fax at (609) 383-1973). To obtain a copy of the project solicitation, call Ms. Judith Huggard, FAA Aviation Research Grant Program, at (609) 485-4368, or Mrs. Clare Nanni at (609) 485-6970 (Fax at (609) 485-6509). (0283)

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