Smiths Detection Nabs X-Ray Award that TSA Withdrew from Rapiscan
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) earlier this month awarded Smiths Detection
a $62.9 million contract to supply Advanced Technology (AT) X-Ray machines for aviation checkpoint security. The award originally was made to Rapiscan Systems last fall but the TSA terminated that contract for default after Rapiscan self-disclosed its bid included a part that hadn’t been certified by the agency. TSA primarily acquires its AT X-Ray systems from both companies although it has purchased several dozen from L-3 Communications [LLL]. DHS is investigating whether to temporarily debar Rapiscan from federal contracting. Rapiscan is part of OSI Systems [OSIS]. Smiths will supply its aTiX system to several airports this year under the contract.
Kratos Receives $10M for Mass Transit Security
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions [KTOS] says its Public Safety & Security (PSS) division has received a $9.5 million change order under an existing contract to provide an Electronic Security System for a mass transportation authority in a major city and metropolitan area in the U.S. The company declined to disclose the customer and additional information about its solution. “Kratos’ PSS business is currently deploying specialized security systems at certain of our country’s most important strategic assets, critical infrastructure and public venues, and this customer engagement continues to be a very high profile program within our company,” says Ben Goodwin, president of the PSS division.
Air Force Selects 12 Firms to Compete for $900M in Homeland Defense Work
The Air Force Installation Contracting Activity has selected a dozen companies to compete for up to $900 million research, development and assistance work for the Homeland Defense and Security Technical Area Tasks. The awardees are Booz Allen Hamilton [BAH], Battelle Memorial Institute, Jacobs Technology Inc., MacAaulay-Brown Inc., MRI Global, National Security Information Associates, Strategic Analysis Inc., Leidos Holdings [LDOS], Scitor Corp., TASC, URS, and Wyle Laboratories. The companies will provide research, development, test and evaluation, and advisory and assistance services within the chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense, homeland defense and security, critical infrastructure protection, weapons of mass destruction, biometrics, medical, cultural studies and alternative energy focus areas. The contract is up to five years.
JetBlue Acquires Morpho’s MobileTrace Systems to Screen U.S. Bound Fliers
Safran Group’s Morpho Detection says that it has received a contract from JetBlue Airways [JBLU] to provide 14 MobileTrace explosive trace detectors for the air carrier to screen U.S.-bound passengers from select global locations. Morpho Detection says the handheld systems will be deployed this year to meet enhanced Transportation Security Administration passenger screening mandates. The value of the contract wasn’t disclosed but the MobileTrace systems range in price between $25,000 and $35,000 per unit depending on the customer. While the company’s desktop Itemiser ETD is a mainstay in the aviation security market, MobileTrace systems have been used here as well. MobileTrace can also be used to detect narcotics.
FEMA Awards Apprio Potential $20M for Preparedness Support
Apprio says the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded it a potential five-year, $20 million contract to provide consulting services to the Center for Domestic Preparedness. The first year of the award is for $3.8 million. The support services include administrative registration, travel arrangements, scheduling of transportation, classroom setup and training support materials, outreach, archival of historical records, coordination with CDP functional areas and contractors, record analysis and quality control.
Savi Nabs $102 Million DoD RFID-IV Contract
Savi Technology has received a potential five-year, $102 million winner-take-all contract from the Army to provide new capabilities to the department and its components for automatic global tracking and monitoring of assets and commodities. Under the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)-IV program, Savi will provide customers with a comprehensive array of hardware and software products including active RFID sensors, readers, Real-Time Location Systems, satellite communication, and related solutions for global asset planning and tracking of personnel, equipment and cargo sustainment worldwide. Savi’s partners on the new contract include Orbcomm [ORBC], Austria’s Identec Solutions, Ubisense, Evanhoe & Associates, Northrop Grumman [NOC] and Honeywell [HON]. The contract was awarded by the Army’s Product Director Automated Movement and Identification Solutions (AMIS). “RFID-IV is a crucial element to the AMIS vision of a DoD-wide enterprise that leverages identification and information technologies to enable efficient use of global asset planning and the movement and tracking of personnel, equipment and sustainment cargo from home station t destination and back,’ says Jim Alexander, PD AMIS. Savi is the only company that has been a prime contractor on the previous three RFID contracts, having won more than 97 percent of all awards totaling more than 61 percent of the combined $1 billion-plus ceiling.