Anti-Terrorism Programs to Receive Over $11 Billion in Grants

New legislation introduced to Congress this year recommends over $11 billion in grant funding to be spent on technology-focused initiatives to prevent terrorist attacks and address key security vulnerabilities, according to a report released by INPUT, a provider of government market intelligence. Current top priorities in the homeland security agenda focus on increasing the dependency on highly technical solutions to protect the nation against terrorist threats at its borders, seaports, and within mass transportation systems.

"Concern over national security inadequacies and potential terrorist attacks continues to drive the grant funding trends," said Suzy Haleen, manager of grant products at INPUT. "Anxiety over the safety of our major roadways and points of entry has produced a large number of aggressive and valuable technology grant programs covering many facets of transportation and border security."

The House Bill 153 "Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2005" is proposing $7.5 billion to be spent over the next five years to increase rail and public transportation security. The majority of the funding will be allocated to prevent the seizure of communications and infrastructure, as well as respond to any type of attack, whether chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or explosive in nature. The prevention and response measures outlined in the bill include the need for inter-operable communications systems, protection for public transit operations, employee security preparedness training, and improved security surveillance systems.

With more than 500 million people crossing the borders of the United States at legal points of entry each year, which includes approximately 330 million non-citizens, border and port security is at the center of attention of several bills. The Senate Bill 12 "Targeting Terrorists More Effectively Act of 2005" is valued at $3.5 billion over the next five years. This funding will target border and port security enhancements and cargo container security upgrades. Large-scale technology projects in the bill include the implementation of radiation detection portal equipment and integrated cargo inspection systems.

"Legislation introduced in early 2005 earmarks at least $11 billion in funding for state and local governments to implement technologies that will improve homeland security," added Haleen. "Technology vendors should monitor these grant programs in order to identify new business opportunities at an earlier stage in the contract lifecycle."

INPUT's complete Homeland Security Technology Grants INPUT/Output® report is available to clients of INPUT's Information Services subscription program. For more information on the subscription program, visit http://info.input.com or call 703-707-3500.