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DHS Awards $22 Million for Advanced Pocket Sized Radiation Detectors

Release Date: September 28, 2006

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: (202) 282-8010
September 28, 2006

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) announced today the award of Intelligent Personal Radiation Locator (IPRL) program contracts, totaling approximately $22 million, to General Electric Global Research of Niskayuna, N.Y., Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory of Livermore, Calif. and Smiths Detection of Pasadena, Calif.  These competitive, twenty-seven month contracts are for the development and testing of advanced pocket sized radiation detection prototypes.

The IPRL program serves to develop technologies that autonomously detect the source of radiation and reliably discriminate between normally-occurring radioactive materials, background, and potential threats.  IPRL systems will have the capability for determining the direction, flux, energy, and isotope of detected radiation, as well as the location and orientation of the alarm.  

“IPRL systems show real promise for the security and safety of first responders, border patrol agents, customs and coast guard officers, and other law enforcement personnel,” said Vayl S. Oxford, DNDO Director.  “Homeland Security personnel and first responders will know in real time if they confront a security or safety risk from a device that fits in the palm of their hand.”

DNDO is a jointly staffed, national office established to improve the nation’s capability to detect and report unauthorized attempts to import, possess, store, develop, or transport nuclear or radiological material for use against the nation, and to further enhance this capability over time.  

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This page was last reviewed/modified on September 28, 2006.