SENATOR COLLINS ANNOUNCES $600,000 FOR SRD IN ORONO

Washington, DC - Senator Susan Collins today announced that Sensor Research Development Corporation (SRD) in Orono has been awarded a $600,000 contract from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to create new detection systems for biological and chemical attacks. Senator Collins is the Chairman of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, which has jurisdiction over DHS.

"SRD's work will contribute to the safety and security of the American people, by helping to make our homeland security systems stronger. The company will be developing the next generation of anti-terror tools to help defend our country against biological and chemical attacks," said Senator Collins. "This contract is a great testament to SRD's skilled researchers and engineers. It is significant that a Maine company is at the cutting edge of this unique field of defense technology."

SRD's proposed project is a "Lightweight Autonomous Chemical Identification System Using Semi-Conducting Metal Oxide and Polymer-Coated Surface Acoustic Wave Chemical Micro-Sensors." The system would be a fully autonomous, hand portable, detection system for Chemical Weapons Agents and high priority Toxic Industrial Chemicals. Emergency responders could use the tool to detect areas with dangerously high levels of chemical or biological agents, and to determine whether protective gear is required to respond. It would be a more sensitive detection system and provide the user with a quicker response than current technologies.

The contract is for a year-long Phase I development project. The results would then be assessed for further development.

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