The National Academies will evaluate the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office's assessments of the performance of advanced spectroscopic portals (ASPs), including costs and benefits of the systems, in support of the Secretary of Homeland Security's decision on certification of ASPs for procurement for secondary screening of cargo for nuclear and radiological materials and weapons. If the committee sees no significant differences between deployment for primary screening and secondary screening, it is asked to comment on that, too.Specifically, the chairman of the National Research Council will appoint a committee of experts to perform tasks addressing the Secretary of Homeland Security's requirements for certification of advanced spectroscopic portals (ASPs) for secondary screening and, to the extent possible, for primary screening. The committee will evaluate the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office's (DNDO's) ASP assessments, performance tests, and analyses. Specifically the committee will- Evaluate the adequacy of the DNDO's past testing and analyses of the ASP systems;- Evaluate the scientific rigor and robustness of DNDO's testing and analysis approach;- Evaluate DNDO's cost benefit analysis of ASP technology. This project is sponsored by the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) in the Department of Homeland Security. The approximate starting date for the project is 4/21/2008. A Final Report will be issued in approximately 4.5 months. The whole project is expected to last 9 months. 8/2009: The project has been extended to allow us to obtain additional information and complete the final report.NOTE: The DHS timeline for testing and evaluation has changed and the report is expected to be delivered in November 2008.UPDATE (12/01/2008): The project duration is being extended because of additional tasking and one or more reports will be issued in 2009.UPDATE (05/07/2010): An interim report recommending how to complete testing and evaluation was issued in June 2009. The committee expects to complete a final report by Fall of 2010.