Report: $11 Billion In Tech Grants Going To Fight TerrorismReport: $11 Billion In Tech Grants Going To Fight Terrorism

The war on terrorism will get a boost from some $11 billion in new technology grants introduced to Congress, according to a report released Wednesday by the research firm Input.

"There's been a steady increase in Homeland Security-related funding over the past few years," said Suzy Haleen, manager of grant products at Input. "It's not a huge one-time jump." Haleen said the grants will work to increase dependency on technical solutions including technology measures to defend the U.S. against terrorist threats.

She noted the effort will be focused largely on protecting borders, seaports and mass transportation systems. She said the grants "will include a very wide range of technologies " sensing devices, electronic tags, digital photos, screening equipment, machine-readable technologies and global positioning systems."

She pointed to House Bill 153 "Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2005" as a major grant worth $7.5 billion over five years to increase rail and public transportation security. Most of the funding will be aimed at preventing the seizure of communications and infrastructure as well as responding to a variety of potential attacks ranging from chemical to explosive.

Haleen noted that the bill also seeks to fund measures to develop inter-operable communications systems and to protect public transit operations.

Observing that more than 500 million people cross U.S. borders annually " 330 million of them non-citizens " she said the focus of several bills is on border and port security. For instance, Senate Bill 12 "Targeting Terrorists More Effectively Act of 2005" earmarks $3.5 billion and seeks to fund security enhancements including cargo container security upgrades, radiation detection portal gear, and integrated cargo inspection systems.

"Anxiety over the safety of our major roadways and points of entry has produced a large number of aggressive and valuable technology grant programs," she said.

Haleen said different grants have different timelines, although all generally cover five-year periods. Many grants are for the 2006 fiscal year, which begins in October of this year. "Technology vendors," she said, "should monitor these grant programs in order to identify new business opportunities at an earlier stage in the contract lifecycle."

Most grants will filter down to state and local governments, Haleen said noting that programs for improving identification measures -- like improved drivers license IDs -- will be implemented at state and local levels.