DHS Launches $100M Contract to Boost Border Tunnel Detection System
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is preparing to award a firm-fixed-price contract worth more than $100 million to expand its underground tunnel detection capabilities along the U.S. southwest border.
The upcoming award will support DHS’s Persistent Surveillance and Detection (PSD) system — a key component of the agency’s Cross Border Tunnel Threat (CBTT) program. The system is designed to monitor and identify underground tunnels used for smuggling drugs, weapons, and people into the United States.
According to information from the Acquisition Planning Forecast System, DHS plans to release the solicitation by November 10, with the contract award expected in the first quarter of fiscal year 2026. The work will be performed across several high-risk border areas, including locations in California, and is expected to be completed by December 31, 2026.
The PSD system uses advanced sensors and surveillance tools to detect subterranean activity and map tunnel networks in real time. This technology provides U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents with actionable intelligence to locate, assess, and neutralize tunnels that could be used for illicit trafficking.
A recent report from the DHS Office of Inspector General emphasized the importance of expanding tunnel detection capabilities, noting that tunnel-based smuggling remains a major threat to national security and border integrity.
For the government contracting community, this new contract represents a significant opportunity. Companies specializing in geophysical sensing, underground mapping, sensor networks, and AI-powered surveillance systems are expected to find strong potential for collaboration or subcontracting.
The initiative reflects DHS’s broader commitment to strengthening its technological edge in border security — both above and below ground. With Congress and DHS continuing to fund tunnel detection efforts through programs like the Illicit Cross-Border Tunnel Defense Act, the agency is poised to advance its surveillance capabilities and operational readiness along the southwest border.