Does anyone on the list know more about this satellite-based technical
surveillance system? Does it see use in the private sector? $3,980 seems like
a lot of money for a single GPS-based location logger, so there's probably more
to it than that.
-ed
http://www.gsnmagazine.com/cms/features/news-analysis/2667.html
ICE performs undercover operations with help from satellite tracking devices
By Jacob Goodwin, Editor-in-Chief
Published September 18th, 2009
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) unit of DHS is planning to award a
$39,800 sole source contract to a small Maryland engineering company to provide
10 satellite data recorder trackers, for its undercover operations, but the
tight-lipped agency says, Public disclosure of the nature and purpose of this
requirement could jeopardize ICE officers in the execution of their
investigative duties.
In a Justification and Approval document it released on September 15, ICE
explains why it decided to award a sole source contract to Eastcor Engineering
LLC, of Easton, MD, a young company with only a handful of employees, but
specifically did not explain how the 10 satellite data recorder trackers would
be used or what types of data they would be monitoring.
Eastcor Engineering also does business as Advanced Technology Solutions, or ATS,
which is also based in Easton, MD, says the ICE notice.
ATS is a leading supplier of tracking systems for Government and military use
in gathering vital intelligence to support their operations in combating
terrorism, organized crime and undercover operations, says ICE.
The agency intends to purchase 10 more of these tracking devices on top of the
approximately 500 devices currently being used by ICE on a sole-source basis.
ATS is the only source and sole distributor of the required tracking devices,
says ICE. No other company can meet the Governments needs, this device is of a
size and configuration that can not be obtained from other manufacturers of
similar devices.
The data recorder trackers will be used in Lorton, VA, according to the ICE
announcement, at the offices of its technical operations group.
That technical operations group has also been developing a video surveillance
system in which small pan/tilt zoom portable video cameras can be mounted inside
fast-moving automobiles and transmit video images to ICE monitoring centers, via
cellular telephone networks.
It is also possible to track the movement of traveling vehicles in real-time
through the use of satellite-based Global Position Systems (GPS).
GSN has not been able to obtain any information from Eastcor Engineering LLC
about this prospective sole source contract. A spokesperson for the company told
GSN on September 18, "We would prefer not to participate in this interview."
Received on Sat Mar 02 2024 - 00:57:19 CST