It seems that despite having been forced to terminate (https://antipolygraph.org/forum/index.php?topic=2948.msg20592#msg20592) its use of the Computer Voice Stress Analyzer (http://www.cvsa1.com) (CVSA), a device that by the manufacturer's own admission "is not capable of lie detection," (https://antipolygraph.org/forum/index.php?topic=2047.msg14819#msg14819) U.S. Special Operations Command (http://www.socom.mil) (SOCOM), headquartered at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, remains fascinated with the pseudoscience of voice stress analysis. An announcement (http://www.fbodaily.com/archive/2007/09-September/01-Sep-2007/FBO-01391584.htm) on FBODaily.com indicates that SOCOM has awarded the Transpire Group of Dulles, Virginia a $145,475 contract for Layered Voice Analysis (https://antipolygraph.org/forum/index.php?topic=1177.msg9173#msg9173) (LVA)--a bogus lie detection technology brought to us by Nemesysco (http://www.nemesysco.com)--the Israeli company that a decade ago marketed the Handy Truster (http://www.nemesysco.com/technology-truster.html) voice lie detector.
Nemesysco's Layered Voice Analysis utterly failed as a lie detector in two recent studies:
- Voice Stress Analysis Instrument Evaluation (https://antipolygraph.org/documents/UF_Report_03_17_2006.pdf) (365 kb PDF). Final Report, Counterintelligence Field Activity (CIFA) Contract FA 4814-04-0011. By Harry Hollien and James D. Harnsberger. University of Florida, Gainesville. 17 March 2006. "The findings generated by this study led to the conclusion the [sic] neither the CVSA nor the LVA were sensitive to the presence of deception or stress."
- Assessing the Validity of Voice Stress Analysis Tools in a Jail Setting (https://antipolygraph.org/documents/219031.pdf) (2.1 mb PDF). Research report by Kelly R. Damphousse, Laura Pointon, Deidre Upchurch, and Rebecca K. Moore. National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS) Document No. 219031 dated 31 March 2007. "The goal of this study was to test the validity and reliability of two popular VSA programs (LVA [Layered Voice Analysis] and CVSA [Computer Voice Stress Analyzer]) in a 'real world' setting. Questions about recent drug use were asked of a random sample of arrestees in a county jail. Their responses and the VSA output were compared to a subsequent urinalysis to determine if the VSA programs could detect deception. Both VSA programs show poor validity - neither program efficiently determined who was being deceptive about recent drug use. The programs were not able to detect deception at a rate any better than chance...."
The FBODaily.com announcement of the SOCOM contract for the purchase of Layered Voice Analysis is reproduced below:
Quotehttp://www.fbodaily.com/archive/2007/09-September/01-Sep-2007/FBO-01391584.htm
FBO DAILY ISSUE OF SEPTEMBER 01, 2007 FBO #2105
AWARD
70 -- LVA 6.50 or Equal
Notice Date
8/30/2007
Notice Type
Award
NAICS
334519 — Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing
Contracting Office
Other Defense Agencies, U.S. Special Operations Command, USASOC, ATTN:E-2929, Fort Bragg, NC, 28310, UNITED STATES
ZIP Code
00000
Solicitation Number
H92239-07-T-0051
Archive Date
9/14/2007
Small Business Set-Aside
N/A
Award Number
H92239-07-P-0209
Award Date
8/30/2007
Awardee
TRANSPIRE GROUP, 45195 BUSINESS COURT, DULLES, VA 20166
Award Amount
$145,475.00
Place of Performance
Address: Fort Bragg, NC
Zip Code: 28310
Country: UNITED STATES
Record
SN01391584-W 20070901/070830230104 (fbodaily.com)
Source
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice (http://www2.fbo.gov/spg/ODA/USSOCOM/FortBraggNC/Awards/H92239%2D07%2DP%2D0209.html)
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
An earlier solicitation posted on FBODaily.com sheds more light on SOCOM's plans for Layered Voice Analysis:
Quotehttp://www.fbodaily.com/archive/2007/08-August/01-Aug-2007/FBO-01356831.htm
FBO DAILY ISSUE OF AUGUST 01, 2007 FBO #2074
SOLICITATION NOTICE
70 -- Layered Voice Analysis (LVA) 6.50
Notice Date
7/30/2007
Notice Type
Solicitation Notice
NAICS
334519 — Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing
Contracting Office
Other Defense Agencies, U.S. Special Operations Command, USASOC, ATTN:E-2929, Fort Bragg, NC, 28310, UNITED STATES
ZIP Code
00000
Solicitation Number
Reference-Number-W81RUC7191B036
Response Due
8/10/2007
Archive Date
8/25/2007
Small Business Set-Aside
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned
Description
The U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with Voice Analysis Technologies, LLC, 5100 Eastpark Blvd, Madison, WI, 53718 under the authority of FAR 19.1406 to acquire eleven (11) Layered Voice Analysis (LVA) 6.50 software packages with one-year technical support and user training at the contractor's site. Voice Analysis Technologies, LLC is the only known service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) concern with the capability of providing this equipment. FAR 19.1406 provides agencies the authority to negotiate exclusively with an SDVOSB when there is only one known SDVOSB with the capabilities the Government requires. However, any other responsible SDVOSB believing itself capable of meeting the requirements may submit technical documentation to establish the potential of meeting the Government's requirements. To be considered, any such documentation must be submitted by 10 Aug 2007 at 2:00 PM EST. A determination not to compete the proposed purchase order amongst SDVOSB's based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive SDVOSB procurement or to proceed on a sole source basis. This acquisition is being processed under FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures. The applicable NAICS code is 334519. Interested SDVOSB's who believe they are capable of providing the required equipment should submit their technical documentation to Ms. Barbara Bowles via email at bowlesb@soc.mil. A firm-fixed price commercial purchase order will be awarded NLT 14 Aug 2007.
Place of Performance
Address: HQ USASOC, Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Zip Code: 28310
Country: UNITED STATES
Record
SN01356831-W 20070801/070730222416 (fbodaily.com)
Source
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
That wrinkly old adage is still true........
There's a sucker born every day.
(and here was me thinking that 'tender corruption' only happened in darkest africa)