PositiveID Corporation (fka PSID)

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DHS-requesting Congress-approve new-BioWatch Gen3 budget of $125.29 million..

BioWatch consumes the majority of OHA's $166.46 million fiscal 2013 request, with DHS requesting Congress approve new budget authority of $125.29 million.

According to the fiscal 2013 DHS budget justification (large .pdf), OHA plans on performing an operational test and evaluation of Gen-3 sensors in four U.S. cities.

But Garza, during the hearing, said that only one company's product has so far made it through the first phase of Gen-3 procurement.

(Operational testing constitutes the program's second phase), and said he can "make no guarantees that it'll make it through the next phase of testing."

He said the program has run into scheduling difficulties because the technology required for Gen-3 is cutting edge.

Whether or not the Gen-3 schedule has slipped is a matter of perspective, Garza argued.

"It depends if you're looking at the acquisition timeline or if you're looking at 'Hey, this is a new technology,'" he said.

"If you look at the acquisition timeline, it's slipped--absolutely, it's slipped," he added.

For more:
- go to the hearing webpage (prepared testimony and webcast available)

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Read more: BioWatch Gen-3 behind schedule - FierceHomelandSecurity

http://www.fiercehomelandsecurity.com/story/biowatch-gen-3-behind-schedule/2012-04-02-0#ixzz2MkpAHrR3

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http://www.fiercehomelandsecurity.com/story/biowatch-gen-3-behind-schedule/2012-04-02-0

Filed UnderAlexander Garza, biodefense, bioterrorism, BioWatch, counterterrorism, fiscal 2013, House Homeland Security, Office of Health Affairs

Read more: BioWatch Gen-3 behind schedule - FierceHomelandSecurity

http://www.fiercehomelandsecurity.com/story/biowatch-gen-3-behind-schedule/2012-04-02-0#ixzz2Mkr9LeGm

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