Corporate Characteristics and Experience
Noblis is a nonprofit scientific research and systems engineering organization that works in the public interest to solve complex problems. We conduct research and undertake systems-engineering analyses to advance scientific knowledge and to create technological solutions that strengthen the nation in key areas of public interest. As a non-commercial organization, we avoid business relationships that might create a potential conflict of interest or otherwise undermine our objectivity as we work in close partnership with government decision-makers. We have more than 350 highly qualified and experienced professional staff working in teams to solve complex, multi-dimensional problems.
Noblis has extensive depth and breadth of experience in counter-terrorism and domestic preparedness—areas that are critical to the mission of homeland security. Noblis has taken a leading role in such key areas as cyber security, health surveillance, chem/bio defense, information sharing and analysis for infrastructure protection, and agricultural security. The most valuable capability we offer is our ability to tackle the greatest challenge facing our government in this area: developing and executing an integrated program strategy to effectively connect various federal agencies that have developed readily useable but fragmented capabilities in different facets of counter-terrorism.
As a result of our technical support to all levels of government and other organizations and our continuing internal corporate research, Noblis has gained experience and capabilities that provide a rich source of lessons learned. We use our internal knowledge management system to capture our knowledge and locate expertise for reuse in the public interest on behalf of our clients. Our expanded expertise encompasses the critical aspects of intelligence, threat analyses, risk assessment, information systems modernization, information security, high-assurance networks, and critical infrastructure protection, as well as domain expertise in the chem/bio defense area, including developing conceptual designs and test and validation strategies for bio-surveillance systems.
We have on staff technical experts and former government leaders in the fields of counter-terrorism, public safety, and domestic preparedness, including more than 35 scientists and engineers working on chem/bio defense. Those experts are teamed with system engineers and domain experts in areas such as transportation and public health to create multi-disciplinary solutions for government program managers. The following paragraphs provide just a few examples of our capabilities and work programs that are relevant to the homeland security mission.
Familiarity with Federal, State, and Local Government Operations
Since Noblis works closely with a wide array of government agencies and organizations, we have developed an in-depth understanding of their programs and capabilities. Our clients include the Departments of Defense, Justice, Health and Human Services, Transportation, Agriculture, Interior, Commerce, and Energy; the Intelligence Community, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the General Services Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency. We also work with more than 30 states and numerous local jurisdictions in the areas of public safety and improved delivery of essential government services. We have pioneered the concept of Centers of Excellence to solve common technological problems across state and local government, thus gaining economies of scale and reuse of proven approaches. Our Center for Criminal Justice Technology and Information Technology Support Center bridge federal, state, and local governments and are operated as partnerships with academia and government. This kind of in-depth knowledge and direct experience with the programs and culture of agencies across the federal government and throughout state and local government is essential to creating and implementing successful program strategies for homeland security.
National Public Safety Systems
As part of its systems engineering support to the FBI over the last decade, Noblis helped the Bureau to develop the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) and the National Crime Information Center 2000 (NCIC 2000). IAFIS, the national repository for more than 43 million sets of fingerprints and associated criminal records, is designed to support more than 60,000 requests for information a day; law enforcement officers around the country can electronically submit a subject’s fingerprints and receive a criminal history from IAFIS within two hours. The NCIC 2000 system, a near–real-time national system, provides access to wants and warrants. Noblis is now providing systems engineering and technical assistance for the FBI’s new Trilogy program. Trilogy will modernize the investigative information infrastructure and define new document management strategies and systems. This experience, spanning all levels of government, is valuable since the systems capability envisioned for homeland security must also successfully integrate dispersed and heterogeneous data sources and users.
Threat Analysis
As a part of its internally funded research and its technical support to national security agencies, Noblis has developed an analysis model that uses the process of acquiring a threat capability—such as the ability to develop and deliver a biological attack—to organize raw data into an evolving picture and a knowledge repository. This, in turn, offers insights into gaps that can guide future data collections, technology investments, and policy operations. We have worked with expert panels evaluating threat scenarios and evaluated key issues regarding biological and chemical agents. We also partnered with Harvard University on a study of the risk to U.S. agriculture from a biological attack. Our experiences and approaches in this area can be applied to the challenge of analysis and dissemination of threat-indicator information.
Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)
Noblis earned its reputation as a national center of expertise on chem/bio defense systems through our 20 years of support to the Army in its efforts to properly dispose of the national stockpile of chemical weapons. Noblis has also supported other clients in the chem/bio arena, including the U.S. Army Soldier Biological and Chemical Command, the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, the Joint Program Office for Biological Defense, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Department of Justice, and classified governmental agencies. In conjunction with our support to federal programs, we have developed a nationally recognized resource of information on chemical and biological weapons technology. In addition, we are presently supporting the government as it develops and fields advanced decontamination technologies and sample detection and analysis facilities. In-depth knowledge of WMD technology—both offensive and defensive—is critical for effective warning, prevention, protection, and response.
Biomedical Defense and Risk Assessment
Noblis scientists have extensive experience in the core disciplines related to biological warfare defense and counter-proliferation, including microbiology, cell biology, molecular biology, and toxicology. Our work program includes a variety of projects in the biological defense and counter-proliferation area. We also work extensively with the healthcare community on system solutions to secure sharing of medical information. We have developed models for deploying mobile hospital facilities, performed quality oversight to ensure the safety and efficacy of stockpiled vaccines and helped organizations reengineer their patient call center operations.
Through internal Noblis research, and in partnership with other researchers and health care organizations, we have pioneered the concept of bio-surveillance using public health indicators to detect patterns indicative of a biological event. Our conceptual system, under funding from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), will be further developed as we work with the health community in Utah to implement a surveillance system for the Salt Lake City Olympics. Noblis has combined innovative approaches with practical knowledge and is working with partners in government and the private sector to research and help field solutions to bio-defense challenges. We help bridge scientific and technical insights (e.g., how a bio-weapon can be developed) into actionable information (e.g., indicators to guide surveillance and interdiction).
Cyber Security
Noblis has experience across the full spectrum of information security, including assessment of security vulnerabilities through penetration testing and intrusion detection and management and technical and management approaches to correcting vulnerabilities. We have also facilitated enhanced security architectures to improve network and information integrity. Our work in information security includes examples of innovative approaches that make technologies—such as Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)—more widely available to protect networks and the information transmitted across them. Our research on PKI bridging technology is now the standard for integrating multiple-vendor solutions at the federal level. This research could also provide an essential component of an accelerated national strategy for cyber security and better authentication of critical transactions. Our capabilities in cyber security are valuable in assessing cyber threats, in developing protective strategies, and in securing information and communication systems used by organizations participating in homeland security programs.
Information and Communications Infrastructure
As organizations proceed through information infrastructure upgrades, Noblis provides specialized testing and evaluation capability, focusing on key issues such as commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) interoperability, security, and system performance. For example, Noblis’ Information Technology Laboratory develops architectures and functional requirements for information technology services, performs proof-of-concept development, tests new systems prior to implementation, evaluates and recommends COTS software and hardware for its ability to meet client requirements, and surveys and beta tests new products to ensure that clients make cost-effective procurements. In addition, our telecommunications experts analyze public and private network structure, performance and pricing with a supporting base of telecommunications and networking laboratories and models. Noblis’ unique combination of technology and systems knowledge—and freedom from vendor affiliations—allows us to evaluate technologies, engineer system solutions, and recommend improvements to infrastructure security without bias or the appearance of favoring one solution over another.
Infrastructure Operations
Beyond our involvement with information and communications systems, we have extensive experience working in such sectors as transportation, law enforcement, emergency services, public and private health, energy, satellite systems, postal services, and other government services. This knowledge of infrastructure operations allows us to work effectively with practitioners in evaluating vulnerabilities, engineering solutions, and sharing information.
Information Sharing and Analyses
Noblis has developed (1) working models for information sharing between public and private sector entities, (2) integrated vulnerability assessments, and (3) field exercises to test vulnerabilities and response plans. We prepared the first comprehensive proposal for a cross-sector information sharing and analysis center shortly after PDD-63. We are partnering with the County Executives of America on a prototype information-sharing resource for government executives that will enhance their access to vital information on threats, capabilities, and training; such a prototype would enable them to be more responsive in the event of catastrophic terrorism threats. Noblis is also working with the USDA and the agriculture industry to create an information-sharing and collaboration capability to complement their emergency command center. We are uniquely positioned to partner with stakeholders in homeland security to host an ISAC that brings together federal, state, local, and private-sector elements.
Emergency Response and Disaster Preparedness
Noblis has extensive experience and subject matter expertise in emergency and disaster planning, including the conduct of and participation in the testing of civilian and military emergency operations plans. Under a contract with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, we are developing an interagency National Hazard Information Strategy. The strategy covers four phases of emergency/disaster planning: preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery. Noblis also assisted USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in developing the initial set of operating requirements for the new APHIS Emergency Operations Center (AEOC) in Riverdale, Maryland. This study included integrating AEOC equipment and support tools with actual operations, developing a process for operating the facilities, and determining the training requirements for staff and emergency team participants, including transferring of information to and from the AEOC. Noblis has worked with FEMA and state and local emergency management agencies to develop programs for hazard identification, capability analysis, and development planning. We are familiar with the emergency response community and can work effectively across sectors and levels of government to achieve the objectives of homeland security.