Helium Trailer Recertification

The Tethered Aerostats Radar System (TARS) provides for long-range search and track of air and surface targets, providing multi-domain awareness to CBP Air Marine Operations Center (AMOC), Caribbean AMOC (CAMOC), Office of Border Patrol (OBP), United States Coast Guard (USCG), and the U.S. military.

The TARS program is comprised of aerostats, aerostat support systems, radars, weather equipment, communications systems, winch systems, facilities, special purpose vehicles, associated equipment, and personnel necessary to accomplish the mission. DLA Aerospace Energy (DLA-E) provides helium product to TARS’ seven operational sites, TMSS two operational sites, and 4 TAS operational sites. All sites require gaseous helium, which is stored in helium tube trailers onsite.

Helium provides direct lift aerial support to Aerostat, radar, and other surveillance tools to overcome line of sight constraints to deter illegal activity along the U.S Southern Border, Florida Keys, and portions of the Caribbean. The trailers used to store and provide helium are required to be recertified every 5-10 years to comply with U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Pipeline and Material Safety regulations.

Currently, TARS has thirty (30) trailers of which fifteen (15) are out of certification or near the end of the certification period. Recertification will avoid disruption of site operations that will create a potential national security crisis due to site Non-Mission Capability (NMC). CBP requires trailer support to ensure 24/7 365 continuous operations and maintenance of TARS operational sites.

Due to the potential national security crisis, critical nature of this requirement, timeline, resources, and cost, CBP requests a vendor that can meet and or exceed the requirements to recertify helium trailers and ensure the continuation of TARS operations across the fleet.