WASHINGTON—The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) announced today a $179,800 award to Kiana Analytics, Inc. to enhance U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) passenger screening technology. The project is awarded under the Silicon Valley Innovation Program (SVIP) Other Transaction Solicitation (OTS) aimed at non-traditional performers to offer solutions to some of the toughest threats facing DHS and the homeland security mission.
“CBP secures and manages 328 ports of entry all over the country, including in remote areas,” said CBP Acting Commissioner Kevin McAleenan. “Through the Silicon Valley Innovation Program, we are exploring technologies that can provide us with new capabilities and solutions to facilitate lawful entry at even our most remote U.S. ports of entry.”
CBP processes more than 1 million travelers a day arriving to the United States by air, land and sea. As part of the SVIP, S&T and CBP sought novel approaches to improve CBP operations and the international arrivals process at remote land ports of entry, marinas, and airports and through Trusted Traveler facilitation. Kiana’s approach is to leverage their expertise in real-time location and analytics to facilitate the entry process.
“The SVIP is all about helping innovative start-ups adapt their technology development in support of the homeland security mission,” said Acting DHS Under Secretary for Science and Technology Dr. Robert Griffin. “It’s great to see the benefit of new partnerships between DHS and the start-up community.”
Companies participating in the SVIP are eligible for up to $800,000 in non-dilutive funding to adapt commercial technologies for homeland security use cases. The Kiana award was made under the SVIP solicitation Enhancing CBP Airport Passenger Processing – HSHQDC-16-R-00115 in support of the CBP mission. The call is open until July 13, 2017.
For more information on this and other SVIP solicitations, contact dhs-silicon-valley@hq.dhs.gov.