The Transportation Security Administration plans to award a contract to Smiths Detection for purchase the company’s IONSCAN 600 explosive trace detection units once they are approved under the Air Cargo Screening Technology List to meet the agency’s newest detection standards and air cargo requirements. The agency says the contract will address the requirements of its Office of Requirements and Capabilities Analysis, Capabilities Assessment and Qualification Branch, Intermodal Division, Air Cargo ETD Test Bed Program.

TSA is extending the ordering period on existing contracts with L3 Technologies [LLL] and Smiths Detection until Oct. 30 for explosive trace detection systems used to meet security requirements for checkpoint and checked baggage screening. So far under the contract with Smiths, TSA has purchased 1,185 ETDs out from a potential ceiling of 10,000 units. For L3, the agency has spent $49.4 million out of a potential $162 million ceiling. The extensions will ensure there is no lapse in personnel vetting between the current contract and the follow-on engineering support services contract.

Smiths Detection has launched an e-commerce management platform to better provide customer-care services and support to its customers around the clock, enabling them to manage their business and operations, including purchasing, tracking and analysis of their product consumables and accessories. Smiths says www.MySmithsDetection.com automatically identifies bulk discounting for orders, supports same day shipping and credit card payments.

Evernym, Inc., has received a $749,000 Small Business Innovation Research award from the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate  to develop an easy-to-use, decentralized mechanism for managing public and private keys needed for the secure and scalable deployment of blockchain technologies. Under the Phase II award, the Salt Lake City-based startup will design and implement a decentralized key management system based on a National Institute of Standards and Technology framework.