WASHINGTON, March 15, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Homeland Security & Defense Business Council President and CEO Marc Pearl testified today before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation on the homeland security industry's perspective on the relationship and interaction between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate programs and the private sector's recommendations for success.
Pearl's testimony focused on the need to ensure that the private sector and the DHS S&T Directorate nurture and develop a strong relationship long before final decisions on contracts are made. Pearl stated that, "In order to pursue a level playing field and to spur innovation efforts, broad and interactive communications to inform strategic planning and developing a national technology framework are needed. Greater long-term strategic planning and more opportunities to engage the Department earlier in the planning process will also result in our delivering the innovative and successful solutions our nation needs."
In addition, the Council encouraged the Directorate to continue integrating and improving its requirements process and involving earlier input and counsel from the private sector to provide the most effective and efficient solutions to those requirements. The Council also encouraged development of an "Acquisition and Operational Analysis Division" to improve the writing of the necessary requirements and the overall strengthening of the individual components' acquisition programs; and the enhancement of the Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA) by combining all the S&T divisions, thereby strengthening and gaining better alignment across the disciplines and needs. The Council's testimony urged the Directorate, with continued encouragement from Congress to continue its commitment to the SAFETY Act – one of the Directorate's best and most tangible methods for working with the private sector.
View the testimony at: http://homelandcouncil.org/pdfs/digital_library_pdfs/hsdbc_testimony_031511_house_science_space_technology_committee.pdf
About the Council
The Homeland Security & Defense Business Council is a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization of the leading companies that bring homeland security solutions to the marketplace. It works to ensure that the perspective, innovation, expertise and capabilities of the private sector are recognized, respected and integrated with the public sector. For more information, please visit www.homelandcouncil.org.