TSA awards $52 million for piloting different detection technologies

Follow the money. We wrote last week about DHS awarding $33 million to three companies to demonstrate Stand-Off Radiation Detector System (SORDS) technologies able to detect radiation from a distance, and also determine the direction, flux, energy, and isotope of the detected radiation. The search for effective detection technologies continues, and a couple of days ago the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said the agency had awarded a total of $52.3 million worth of contracts to deploy, or conduct, security technology pilot projects at airports and mass transit facilities in recent months. Newly procured technology includes advanced technology (AT) X-ray; automated explosives detection (auto-EDS) for security checkpoints; bottled liquid scanners; passive millimeter wave; and a cast/prosthetics screening device. TSA administrator Kip Hawley says that “These purchases will significantly enhance our suite of technologies while improving security. Better technology leverages the skills of our officers more efficiently and improves our ability to adapt in real-time to changes in the threat environment.” Here is where the money went:

* Following pilot testing at Reagan National, New York-Kennedy, Los Angeles International, and Albuquerque airports, Torrance, California-basedRapiscan Systems (620DV) and Smiths Detection (HI-SCAN 6040aTIX) were awarded $9.3 million and $21 million contracts, respectively, for each to provide approximately 125 of their AT X-ray systems. AT X-ray refers to a group of high-definition, multi-view systems which provide more defined images of baggage than traditional, single view X-ray currently in use by TSA.

* TSA has purchased auto-EDS machines from Peabody, Massachusetts-based Analogic Corporation and Bedford, Massachusetts-based Reveal Imaging Technologies for checkpoint applications. The technologies of both companies use computed tomography (CT), the same explosives detection technology used in checked baggage screening. The technology generates a three-dimensional image which can be viewed and rotated on three axes for thorough image evaluation. TSA has initially purchased twelve Cobra units from Analogic at a value of $7.6 million, and eight Fusion units from Reveal for $5.6 million.

* TSA has procured passive millimeter wave technology from Reston, Virginia-based Planning Systems for use in mass transit hubs. The technology detects and measures the waves naturally emitted by the human body and determines if there is anything concealed on the human body. TSA has purchased twelve SPO-7 units from Planning Systems for $3 million.

* San Diego, California-based Spectrum San Diego has been awarded a $1.7 million contract for TSA to deploy thirty-seven of its CastScope cast and prosthetics screening devices. The CastScope was designed to screen passengers with casts, braces, heavy bandages or prosthetics by providing a backscatter X-ray image for TSA to assess concealed threats. TSA was involved from the beginning stages of the development of this technology, dating back several years.

* TSA has awarded contracts to Stillwater, Oklahoma-basedNomadics and Smiths Detection for hand-held explosives detection scanners. TSA procured 200 Fido PaxPoint units from Nomadics for $3.4 million to differentiate liquid explosives from common, benign liquids and twenty-three SABRE units from Smiths Detection for $650,000 to provide mobile explosive trace and vapor detection capabilities.

Many contracts allow for additional purchases over the next two years, and TSA will establish a deployment schedule for initial purchases in the coming weeks and months.