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The threat level in the airline sector is High or Orange. Read more.
The SECURE Program is an efficient and cost-effective program to foster cooperative "win-win" partnerships between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the private sector. The Department works with the private sector to develop products, systems or services aligned to the needs of its operating components and first responders. The Department posts detailed operational requirements in the form of an Operational Requirements Document (ORD) on this site to articulate specific needs in conjunction with a conservative estimate of the Potential Available Market (PAM) of a given product, system, or service.
Private sector entities possessing technologies or products aligned to these requirements can use this valuable information to generate a business case and develop (at their cost) a fully deployable product or service after their verification of market potential. The Department assures that a product or service has demonstrated operational performance that meets a given private sector entity's published specifications through our review of recognized third-party independent testing data. This enables the private sector, through the free market system, to develop products and services that capture significant revenue opportunities and demonstrates to potential purchasers that the product "does what it claims to do."
The SECURE Program is run by the DHS Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate's Commercialization Office, led by the Department's first Chief Commercialization Officer Thomas A. Cellucci. (PDF, 1 page - 48.64 KB)
The SECURE Program Overview explains the process of becoming a Department partner in the SECURE Program.
The following downloads provide background information on the SECURE Program. These files are designed to provide insight into the development of detailed operational requirements documents and how the Department is working to leverage its relationship with the private sector to benefit America:
ORDs are detailed operational requirements normally associated with capability gaps derived from our Capstone Integrated Product Team (IPT) process. Private Sector organizations that possess or could develop solutions to meet needs articulated in published ORDs are eligible to apply for a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security through the SECURE Program to develop products and/or services.
In addition to the ORDs, conservative estimates of the Potential Available Market (PAM) for a potential solution to a given ORD are posted by the Department below. As previously mentioned, a Private Sector entity should develop and analyze its own business case for a possible partnership with the Department through the SECURE Program.
The objective of the SECURE program is to establish a mutually-beneficial working relationship with the private sector to cost-effectively and efficiently develop products/services to better secure the Nation. In order to achieve this objective, the development of Operational Requirements Documents (ORDs) by the Department is critical to the effective communication of needs throughout the Department and externally to the private sector when appropriate. We would appreciate your feedback since ORDs are designed to provide a detailed description of a need/problem in a way that encourages non-biased solutions in an open and freely-competitive environment. Therefore, if you believe that any ORD is over-confining to a given "solution space" please contact us at SandT_Commercialization@dhs.gov with your detailed feedback for review by DHS technical staff. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Outreach efforts to inform the public on “How to do Business with DHS” is receiving positive feedback from the private sector and media. Outreach efforts center on notifying the private sector about opportunities that exist for partnership and business development to address the needs of the Department. Several articles have been written about our Commercialization efforts. Outreach efforts are conducted through invited talks to trade conventions, reaching small, medium and large businesses. Efforts also extend to meet with minority, disadvantaged and HUB Zone groups on a regular basis.
If you would like to provide feedback or for more information on how to get involved in the SECURE Program, please send an e-mail to sandt_commercialization@hq.dhs.gov or call 202-254-6749.
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This page was last reviewed/modified on November 19, 2008.