CWMD Directed Testing Program - Jacana-III

Background
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Office aims to counter threats from weapons of mass destruction.

The CWMD's Test & Evaluation (T&E) Division conducts assessments to support federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial stakeholders regarding the performance and use of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) detection systems.

In FY25, the Directed Testing Program plans to conduct two test campaigns: Jacana-III for chemical detection and Komodo Dragon-II for radiological/nuclear detection, both incorporating cybersecurity components. This RFI specifically pertains to Jacana-III, which is designed as a three-phase test campaign to enhance CWMD's chemical testing capabilities.

Work Details
Jacana-III will perform an operational assessment of handheld and human-portable chemical detectors to gather operator feedback on device performance, current concepts of operations (CONOPS), and real-world applicability.

Participation may include DHS components such as Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). The assessment will also involve a cyber resilience adversarial evaluation in an operationally relevant setting.

The RFI seeks information on the current state of handheld and human-portable chemical detection technologies—both commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) and government off-the-shelf (GOTS)—to inform the design of the operational test. Desired characteristics for detectors include readiness levels TRL 7 and above, technologies such as mass spectrometers, ion mobility spectrometers (IMS), hyperspectral systems, gas detectors, and colorimetric devices capable of detecting various chemical forms including vapors/aerosols, gases, surface contamination, and bulk materials.

Period of Performance
The contract work is scheduled for Spring 2025.