[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 115 (Friday, June 13, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33828-33829]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-13287]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Office of the Secretary


Notice Designating the Northeastern University as a DHS Center of 
Excellence for Explosives Detection Mitigation and Response as Research 
Lead Institution

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Department of Homeland Security.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security has designated the 
Northeastern University as a DHS Center of Excellence for Explosives 
Detection Mitigation and Response, Research Lead Institution.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas Bauer, Program Manager, 
University Programs, Science and Technology Directorate, Department of 
Homeland Security, Washington, DC 20528; telephone 202-254-6040, 
facsimile 202-254-6179; e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 308 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Public Law 107-
296, (the ``Homeland Security Act''), as amended by the Consolidated 
Appropriations Resolution 2003, Public Law 108-7, and as codified in 
Title 6 of the United States Code Chapter I Subchapter III Section 
188(b)(2) [6 U.S.C. 188(b)(2)], directs the Department of Homeland 
Security (``Department'') to sponsor extramural research, development, 
demonstration, testing and evaluation programs relating to homeland 
security. As part of this program, the Department has established a 
coordinated system of university-based centers for homeland security 
(the ``Centers'').
    The Centers are envisioned to be an integral component of the 
Department's capability to anticipate, prevent, respond to, and recover 
from terrorist attacks. The Centers will leverage multidisciplinary 
capabilities and fill gaps in current knowledge.
    Title 6 U.S.C. 188(b)(2)(B) lists fourteen areas of substantive 
expertise that, if demonstrated, might qualify universities for 
designation as university-based centers. The listed areas of expertise 
include: (1) The training of first responders; (2) responding to 
incidents involving weapons of mass destruction and biological warfare; 
(3) emergency and diagnostic medical services; (4) chemical, 
biological, radiological and nuclear countermeasures or detection; (5) 
animal and plant health and diagnostics; (6) food safety; (7) water and 
wastewater operations; (8) port and waterway security; (9) multi-modal 
transportation; (10) information security and information engineering; 
(11) engineering; (12) educational outreach and technical assistance; 
(13) border and transportation security; and (14) the public policy 
implications and public dissemination of homeland security relevant 
research and development. However, the list is not exclusive. 6 U.S.C. 
188(b)(2)(C) gives the Secretary discretion to except certain criteria 
specified in 6 U.S.C. 188(b)(2)(B) and consider additional criteria 
beyond those specified in 6 U.S.C. 188(b)(2)(B) in selecting 
universities for this program, as long as the Department issues a 
Federal Register notice explaining the criteria used for the 
designation.

Criteria

    In response to Congressional direction contained in the Conference 
Report for the Fiscal Year 2007 Department of Homeland Security 
Appropriations Act, the DHS Under Secretary for Science and Technology 
developed a plan in November 2006 to establish new DHS Centers of 
Excellence in high priority science and technology areas which aligned 
to the DHS Science and Technology Directorate's research portfolios and 
for which DHS determined there were significant gaps in scientific 
understanding and technological development. These areas included: (1) 
Natural Disasters, Coastal Infrastructure and Emergency Management, (2) 
Explosives Detection, Mitigation and Response, (3) Maritime, Island and 
Remote Environment Security, and (4) Border Security and Immigration. 
Research in these areas will contribute significantly to the 
Department's ability to enhance homeland security and the safety of our 
citizens from both natural and man-made threats.
    The criteria for designation for this new Center of Excellence for 
Explosives Detection Mitigation and Response (EDMR)is demonstrated 
expertise in conducting fundamental research in explosives-related 
science and engineering. S&T is establishing the EDMR COE to conduct 
research to enhance the Nation's technical capabilities to detect, 
prepare for, prevent damages from, respond to, and recover from 
terrorist attacks involving explosives. The EDMR COE will collaborate 
closely with the DHS/Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate's 
Explosives Division, which manages a full-spectrum research and

[[Page 33829]]

development (R&D) program from fundamental research to advanced 
technologies. The EDMR COE will provide enabling basic research that 
will advance the technical tools and information that S&T's customers 
will need in the future. The EDMR COE will develop relevant educational 
curricula for both matriculated students and career professionals. The 
EDMR COE also will participate in S&T's University Network, a 
consortium of COEs that share resources and data and collaborate on 
research projects to provide cost-effective results to support DHS's 
mission.

Announcement of Funding Opportunities and Competition

    In February 2007, the Department established a competitive process 
and requested white papers and proposals from universities that wished 
to be designated as DHS Centers of Excellence in: (1) Explosives 
Detection Mitigation and Response, (2) Explosives Detection, Mitigation 
and Response, (3) Maritime, Island and Remote Environment Security, or 
(4) Border Security and Immigration. The funding opportunity 
announcements for these four Centers of Excellence were published at 
http://www.grants.gov on February 4, 2007, as required by the Office of 
Management and Budget. In the area of Explosives Detection Mitigation 
and Response, DHS received 19 white papers and evaluated them through a 
peer-review panel process that included scientific expertise from the 
federal government, peer-institutional faculty, and the private sector. 
Following the white paper review, DHS received 5 full proposals by the 
closing date of July 30, 2007. The 5 full proposals were reviewed by 
subject matter experts external to DHS S&T. All 5 full proposals were 
referred to an internal review panel of S&T subject matter experts for 
evaluation, who recommended site visits at 3 sites. Based on 
information collected on these site visits, DHS selected Northeastern 
University to be the Research Lead Institution for the Explosives 
Detection Mitigation and Response Center of Excellence, in partnership 
with the University of Rhode Island (the Education Lead), New Mexico 
Institute of Mining and Technology and other affiliated universities.
    Northeastern University and its partners will conduct basic and 
transformational research and develop educational programs on 
explosives-related issues including explosives properties, formulation, 
and characterization; detection of explosives and explosive devices; 
sensor materials; unconventional approaches to identify threats, and 
other countermeasures. These programs will include the development and 
use of explosives research and educational capabilities at minority-
serving institutions.
    This team of institutions will become an intrinsic part of the DHS 
science and technology portfolio, working closely with DHS and other 
federal, state and local governments to reduce potential damages from 
floods, hurricanes, and other natural disasters.

Jay M. Cohen,
Under Secretary for Science and Technology, Department of Homeland 
Security.
[FR Doc. E8-13287 Filed 6-12-08; 8:45 am]
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