For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010
July 6, 2004

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced today the release of a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) calling for proposals (PDF, 25 pages - 208 KB) that will focus on research efforts for a university-based Center of Excellence in Behavioral and Social Aspects of Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism.  The new Center should focus on both the behavioral and social aspects of the terrorists themselves as well as the behavioral and social effects of terrorist threats and attacks on populations.  The notice invites colleges and universities to submit letters of intent by July 30, 2004, and full proposals are due on September 30, 2004.

“In every area of human endeavor, research and development is the engine that drives our nation to a better and brighter future,” said Secretary Tom Ridge.  “The work of this new Center will complement our current efforts to develop a sustained and innovative research and education effort for the security of our Nation.”

The proposal submission is the first step in the review process for academic institutions wishing to be selected as a Homeland Security Center of Excellence.  Homeland Security will convene a team of expert external evaluators who will review the submissions based on merit and make comments to a selection committee within the Department. Following selected site visits, the Department anticipates establishing one Center of Excellence that, with its partners, will receive $12 million over three years.

"I am pleased that we are taking this important step to continue expanding our partnership with academia," said Dr. Charles McQueary, Under Secretary for Science and Technology.  "This Center of Excellence will be a critical step in expanding our understanding of the psychological and sociological factors leading up to and resulting from terrorist activity."

The Department of Homeland Security has already established three centers of excellence as mandated by the Homeland Security Act of 2002.  In November 2003, the University of Southern California was chosen to house the first Center of Excellence, known as the Homeland Security Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events.  In April 2004 the Department announced two more Centers of Excellence, the University of Minnesota National Center for Food Protection and Defense and the Texas A&M University National Center for Foreign Animal and Zoonotic Disease Defense.

The Homeland Security Centers program, which is operated by the Department's Science and Technology division, establishes university-based centers of multi-disciplinary research where areas critical to homeland security can be analyzed, debated and shared.  Through this program, Homeland Security and partner universities will bring together the nation's best experts and focus its most talented researchers on a variety of threats that include agricultural, sociological, chemical, biological, nuclear and radiological, explosive and cyber terrorism.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology division serves as the primary research and development arm of the Department, utilizing our nation’s scientific and technological resources to provide federal, state and local officials with the technology and capabilities to protect the homeland.

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Broad Agency Announcement: Center of Excellence in Behavioral and Social Aspects of Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism (PDF, 25 pages - 208 KB)