TRACE EXPLOSIVES DETECTION PORTAL FOR PERSONNEL SCREENING TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY Sandia National Laboratories (SNL, Albuquerque, New Mexico) has developed a walk-through portal for the trace detection of explosives on personnel. This portal has been developed over the course of several years with government funding. It utilizes airflow and preconcentration technologies that have been developed at SNL, which are currently being patented. When a person enters the portal, air flows gently over his or her body from head to feet, and is then drawn into collection slots near the floor. The air then enters a preconcentrator, which selectively collects heavy organic molecules. The molecules collected are then pulsed into a commercial IMS (ion mobility spectrometer) detector, and the system software indicates whether or not any explosive material has been detected. The portal throughput rate is approximately one person every 12 seconds. The portal detects several types of common high explosives. The prototype portal was recently field tested at the Albuquerque International Sunport. During several days of testing, 2400 volunteers passed through the portal, and nearly 500 were surveyed about their impressions. Over 99 % said that they would go through the portal again if given the opportunity, and over 97 % said that it should be deployed in airports if proven to be effective. An explosive alarm was recorded on one volunteer who, unknown to the SNL personnel operating the portal, had recently visited a work site where explosives are frequently handled. This person was wearing the same shoes and trousers that he had worn at that site. The false alarm rate during the airport testing was below 1 %, and the throughput rate was verified to be slightly less than 12 seconds per person. This portal has been developed for screening passengers in airports, but it could be used in many other settings including government buildings, commercial centers, and correctional facilities. The market could be increased significantly if the portal is adapted to detect drugs as well as explosives, as appears to be possible based on preliminary work at SNL. SNL solicits expressions of interest from qualified private sector companies desiring to partner with SNL to develop a second generation trace detection portal that will lead to an explosives detection portal suitable for manufacturing and commercial sales. SNL estimates that the cost of research and development in this phase will be $2-3 million. Some government funding may be available but cannot be assured at this time. Government funded work may be subject to agency restrictions. Responses from interested companies should include the following: A statement of interest in developing, manufacturing, and marketing the portal; A brief statement concerning the company's history including information about products that the company markets and information concerning the company's financial resources demonstrating its capability and commitment to participation in a joint research and development effort with SNL; andA statement concerning the company's objectives and expectations, if any, regarding rights to intellectual property developed as a result of a collaboration with SNL. Interested companies should also be able to demonstrate a capability to handle classified information. A workshop of qualified interested parties will be offered if sufficient interest in this partnering opportunity develops. Interested companies must respond in writing to SNL no later than March 20, 1998. Please send responses and inquiries to: Ms. Joanne Trujillo Sandia National Laboratories P.O. Box 5800, MS 1380 Albuquerque, NM 87185-1380 Fax (505) 843-4175 OR John Parmeter Sandia National Labs jeparme@somnet.sandia.gov 505-845-0894 E-MAIL: Joanne M. Trujillo/John Parmeter, jmtruji@sandia.gov or jeparme@somnet.sandia.gov.

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