SECURE Program Overview

The SECURE Program enables the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science & Technology (S&T) Directorate to efficiently and cost-effectively leverage the resources, skills, experience and productivity of the Private Sector, at their cost, to develop technologies and products in alignment with specific requirements obtained from DHS Operating Components and the First Responder Communities.

Private Sector entities offer Technology Readiness Level (TRL-9) products and/or conduct product development to achieve TRL-9 geared specifically toward meeting detailed operational requirements that DHS-S&T openly publishes on our DHS web portal.  TRL’s developed by NASA and utilized by S&T are further explained in the chart on the next page.  The below arrows demonstrate the process for companies interested in becoming a DHS SECURE partner.

The SECURE Process includes Application, Selection, Agreement, and Publication of Results.

• Detailed Operational Requirements will be developed by DHS as part of the Capstone Integrated Product Team (IPT) process
• Requirements will be posted on a public DHS web portal and private sector entities are able to apply to enter into a CRADA-like agreement to provide product(s) or technology(ies) that meet posted requirements
• Third party Test and Evaluation (T&E) will be conducted once a private sector entity has successfully produced a TRL-9 product or service in alignment with the detailed operational requirements
• DHS-S&T will verify the factual findings of the T&E results and post its conclusion on a public DHS web portal, thereby the private sector entity shares in the imprimatur of DHS that its product or technology performs according to its published specifications and meets DHS-driven operational requirements
• DHS customers are able to make informed purchasing decisions on products or technologies developed in alignment with their detailed operational requirements.