DHS, Israel Seeking Proposals for Homeland and Global Security Solutions

The Department of Homeland Security’s Science & Technology Directorate and the Israel Ministry of Public Security are seeking proposals for advanced solutions that would improve homeland security and global safety and security. The 2022 call for proposals is being made under the Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development Homeland Security program.

Some of the focus areas for the BIRD HLS for 2022 are law enforcement support technologies for cybercrime, critical infrastructure and public facilities support, border protection and maritime security, unmanned aerial systems and advanced first response technologies. Proposals must include research and development cooperation between a U.S. and an Israeli entity, and the partners must create technologies that will be commercially viable.

The deadline for submissions is April 25, DHS said Tuesday.

DHS S&T has been working with the Israel Ministry of Public Security on the BIRD HLS program since 2016. It supports cooperative research and development activities between U.S. and Israeli companies, academic institutions and research organizations.

Kathryn Coulter Mitchell, senior official performing the duties of undersecretary for science and technology at DHS, said the BIRD HLS program has a good record of funding partnerships to develop technology solutions that benefit both countries. She noted that 2022 is the seventh year of the program.

Participating organizations receive conditional grants of up to $1 million for approved projects. The program is managed by the BIRD Foundation, an organization that provides funding matchmaking support between U.S. and Israeli organizations.