By Reuters, 10/25/01

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon appealed to Americans on Thursday to send in bright ideas on thwarting terrorism, announcing an unusual, open competition to speed the winners into use.

The Defense Department said it was looking for help in "defeating difficult targets, conducting protracted operations in remote areas and developing countermeasures to weapons of mass destruction."

The goal was to find concepts that can be developed and fielded in 12 to 18 months, a blink of an eye compared with standard Pentagon acquisition and deployment procedures.

U.S. officials from President Bush down have said they fear more terrorist attacks after the Sept. 11 hijack attacks that killed more than 5,000 people at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and on a crashed flight in Pennsylvania.

Laying out a streamlined three-step application process, the Pentagon called for one-page idea descriptions by Dec. 23. Those retained will be asked to provide up to 12 pages of details.

The department then will invite those with the most promising ideas to submit full proposals in a third phase "that may form the basis for a contract," a statement said.

We're open to ideas from just about everybody," added Glenn Flood, a Pentagon spokesman. More information on the process has been posted at http://www.bids.tswg.gov.