The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today that it is taking steps to enhance its Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN). Known as HSIN Next Generation (NextGen), the enhancement will provide a secure and trusted national platform for Sensitive but Unclassified (SBU) information sharing and collaboration between federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, private sector, and international partners.

HSIN NextGen will update the current HSIN technology to better enable Homeland Security to meet the requirements of a trusted and secure environment, combined with enhanced capabilities in many areas.

The current HSIN is a computer-based counterterrorism communications system connecting all 50 states, five territories, Washington, D.C., and 50 major urban areas. It allows all states and major urban areas to collect and disseminate information in real time between federal, state, and local agencies involved in combating terrorism. It also provides capabilities to help analyze that information.

The network also gives states and major urban areas real-time interactive connectivity with the National Operations Center. This collaborative communications environment was developed by state and local authorities.

The next generation network will provide the DHS, its partners and stakeholders information management capabilities and services including a portal, search, collaboration, enterprise content management, and service oriented architecture-based information integration and analysis functions to facilitate collaboration and information sharing needs for SBU data.

The task order to develop, operate, maintain, and enhance the HSIN NextGen information sharing and collaboration portal was awarded on May 23, 2008 to General Dynamics One Source LLC of Fairfax, Va.