The Homeland Open Security Technology (HOST) project, created and sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security, will help federal, state and local agencies better understand open source as an option for technology solutions. This project will start as a one year, 1.5 million dollar, contract and depending on the results may follow up with additional years of funding.

The University of Southern Mississippi along with the Open Source Software Institute will handle most of the project work. The Navy’s Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command will help with the contracting and oversight of the program.