Overview
This section introduces the Support Anti-terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies (SAFETY) Act of 2002, outlining its purpose to promote the development of anti-terrorism technologies by providing critical liability and risk management protections to vendors.
Key Rules
- Purpose: The Act aims to encourage the creation and deployment of anti-terrorism technologies to enhance national security.
- Protections: It provides specific risk management and litigation management protections for sellers of Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technologies (QATTs) and their associated supply chains.
- Regulatory Context: The SAFETY Act serves as a statutory complement to the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002.
- Administration: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of SAFETY Act Implementation (OSAI) is the governing body for inquiries and maintaining the registry of block designations and certifications.
Practical Implications
- Contractors can mitigate extreme third-party liability risks associated with potential terrorist attacks by ensuring their products or services are recognized as QATTs.
- Acquisition professionals and sellers should utilize the official SAFETY Act website to identify "block designations," which can simplify the procurement process for pre-certified technologies.