# Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency

Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency is a Government Agency based in Washington, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Government Agency
- **Headquarters:** Washington, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** Washington, D.C., United States
- **Founded:** 2003
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** harpagency.dhs.gov

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

The Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency was created under the Homeland Security Act of 2002 and began operations in 2003. It operates within the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate, led by the DHS Under Secretary for Science and Technology, with a mission to sponsor high-risk, high-payoff research that strengthens border security, cyber defense, and disaster resilience. HSARPA's project portfolio spans chemical and biological threat detection, cybersecurity tools, artificial intelligence for screening, and resilient infrastructure systems. It funds early-stage prototypes through contracts, cooperative agreements, and other transaction authority (OTA) vehicles, with competitions open to startups, universities, and established defense contractors. Notable past programs include the Autonomous Real-time Ground Ubiquitous Surveillance– Infrared system and the Next Generation First Responder initiative. Three pillars define HSARPA's structure: the Chemical and Biological Defense Division, the Cybersecurity Division, and the Borders and Maritime Security Division. It operates from DHS headquarters in Washington, D.C., with a lean staff of program managers drawn from industry and academia. The agency's annual budget was roughly $300–400 million in recent years, per public DHS budget documents, though exact figures fluctuate by fiscal year. HSARPA's structural distinction is its government-only mandate with no investment return requirement — it measures success by technology transition to DHS components, not financial returns. This makes it an outlier among Altss's typical family-office profiles, functioning as a non-dilutive funding source rather than an allocator of private capital.

## Sectors

- Biodefense & Public Health
- Cybersecurity
- Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning
- Chemical & Biological Security
- Physical Security & Resilience

## People

- DHS Secretary — Overseer

## Questions

### How does HSARPA differ from DARPA?

HSARPA is the DHS analog to DARPA, but focuses exclusively on civilian homeland security applications — biothreats, cyber attacks, natural disasters — rather than military technologies. Its programs are designed to transition to DHS operational components like TSA, CBP, and ICE.

### Does HSARPA make equity investments in companies?

No. HSARPA uses grants, contracts, and other transaction authority to fund research and development. It does not take equity stakes or seek financial returns — the agency measures success by technology adoption by DHS end-users.

### Who leads investment decisions at HSARPA?

Program managers within each division make funding recommendations, subject to approval by the DHS Under Secretary for Science and Technology. The agency does not publicly disclose individual program manager names on a rolling basis.

### What is the typical size of an HSARPA award?

Award sizes vary widely by project phase. Early-stage feasibility studies in the $150K–$500K range are common, while full-scale prototype development contracts can exceed $10 million. Total annual program budgets are determined by congressional appropriations.

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

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