Found This On Yahoo Board,,,,,,,,,,,
Not sure if it's NEW,,,,,,,
RFI OUT OCTOBER
By xiosman45.Oct 15, 2012 3:50 PM.Permalink
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ED/SourceESB: How does this affect suppliers? Is there a phase-in period?
Metz: Suppliers who provide DLA FSC 5962 items will be required to provide items marked with a unique, botanical SigNature(r) DNA mark supplied by Applied DNA Sciences or its authorized licensees, if any. The authentication DNA used shall be unique to the supplier or the manufacturer of the part. The DNA marking can be applied with a visible or invisible DNA mark on the part, or the contractor’s ink utilized for part marking can be infused with the DNA marking material. In addition, suppliers will be required to retain traceability documentation that demonstrates the items provided under the contract to DLA have been marked with SigNature(r) DNA produced by Applied DNA Sciences or an authorized licensee, and that the DNA marking is unique to the contractor.
There is a phase-in approach. First, the requirements will apply to the emulated microcircuits (August 2012) and then all FSC 5962 (November 2012).
DLA is proceeding with this marking requirement for FSC 5962 in order to implement effective authentication marking while concurrently initiating a research and development effort to evaluate comparable DNA and alternative authentication technologies for intended application to all electronics items. A forthcoming Request for Information (RFI) will request input concerning authentication marking technologies that would satisfy DLA’s requirements as outlined in the RFI.
ED/SourceESB: What end products/equipment will this new requirement help to protect?
Metz: This new requirement will help to protect the majority of Department of Defense weapon systems. Many items which DLA manages are used in more than one weapon system. DLA is initially targeting microelectronics. The technology is used with other commodities and has broad implications for other DLA products and equipment which do not contain microcircuits.
ED/SourceESB: How much of a difference do you think this will make in the fight against counterfeit electronics?
Metz: Implementation of this new requirement will reduce the risk of counterfeit parts entering DoD’s supply chains. Generally, DLA intends to infuse parts that have better authentication attributes, and the new marking requirement is one tool toward that goal and one piece of a comprehensive DLA program to detect and prevent counterfeits. The new requirement facilitates the goals of the recent laws (NDAAs) requiring DoD and industry enactment of counterfeit item detection and prevention measures for electronic items and comprehensive national cybersecurity.
The DLA strategy includes the continuous application of new or updated tools to detect and prevent counterfeit items as the tactics of the counterfeiters continuously evolve. DLA is mandating authentication marking of the microcircuits using SigNature(r) DNA for now, based on a successful R&D project. We are open to other solutions and tools as we learn about them.
DLA’s efforts to socialize the concept of authentication marking and encourage broader acceptance is a positive influence on the DoD supply chain participants’ risk management practices and solutions development.
DLA has developed a Request for Information (RFI) for authentication marking, which will be open to additional technological solutions. DLA plans to issue the RFI in October 2012.
ED/SourceESB: What is Applied DNA Sciences’ role in the process?
Meraglia: We have spent the last couple of years talking to the industry, so people are at the point where they understand [our DNA] technology, and now they are saying, ‘What does this mean for me? What do I do? How do I get started?’ More specifically, we’ve spent the last few weeks [since the DLA’s announcement] fielding inquiries and getting people up to speed and understanding what the process entails.
ED/SourceESB: In a nutshell, how does the technology work and what will it do for the industry?
Meraglia: When you look at a microchip, it’s typically a metal or ceramic package, then you have the die and so forth, and you have certain information on the chip—it may have the date, lot code, and the manufacturer’s name printed on it, for instance. If you’re printing that information on the chip, we can put the DNA into the ink you are using. On the other hand, there are some companies that may laser etch information onto the chip. [If that’s the case], then there are other ways to apply the DNA.
In either case, we think this is a tremendously powerful tool for what needs to be accomplished across this industry. Working with manufacturers is something we’re trying to do because that’s what places the most benefit in the supply chain. It allows for the most downstream benefit to all participants [because] it can be authenticated at various points. The further upstream [the part] is marked, the better it is for everyone.
ED/SourceESB: One of the biggest problems in the war on counterfeit components is the evolution of counterfeits—the counterfeiters keep coming up with ways to get by the detection methods. How does DNA technology measure up?
Meraglia: We’ve had some pretty strong entities try to copy what we’re doing and no one has been able to do it. We use plant-based DNA, and it’s just as strong or stronger than human DNA. The counterfeiters will not be able to break through.
During our research and development phase with the DLA, they sought independent validation of what we’re doing. That’s an important part of the process. As we move forward, we’re getting away from demonstrating [the technology] ourselves in favor of having others demonstrate how well this works.
At the end of the day, we want to keep the bad guys out of this industry. We want to make it so difficult for them to attempt [counterfeiting] that they just move out of the business.
