U S Government Accountability Office

Department of Homeland Security U S Government Accountability Office

" Conducting border and maritime R& D to develop technologies for detecting, preventing, and mitigating terrorist threats is vital to enhancing the security of the nation. S& T, the Coast Guard, and DNDO conduct these R& D activities and S& T has responsibility for coordinating and integrating R& D activities across DHS. The Centers of Excellence are a network of university R& D centers that provide DHS with tools, expertise, and access to research facilities and laboratories, among other things. GAO was asked to review DHS's border and maritime R& D efforts. This report addresses (1) the results of DHS border and maritime security R& D efforts and the extent to which DHS has obtained and evaluated feedback on these efforts, and (2) the extent that DHS coordinates its border and maritime R& D efforts internally and externally with other federal agencies and the private sector. GAO reviewed completed and ongoing R& D project information and documentation from fiscal years 2010 through 2013 and interviewed DHS component officials, among other actions. "