TSA to Award IBM $35M for IT Support for Secure Flight

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says it expects to award IBM [IBM] a potential four-year, $34.5 million task order to provide application development and information technology (IT) support services to the Office of Intelligence and Analysis Secure Flight system. BAE Systems was the incumbent on the previous task order but TSA says it decided against exercising the option to extend the contact due to the company’s “failure to make progress and fully staff the task order.” IBM was the only other company to submit an acceptable quote from the original competition, which is managed under the OASIS II contract. The Secure Flight system is used to conduct passenger watch list matching functions. CGI Group [GIB] and Soft Tech Consulting also submitted bids for the work. IBM had been the incumbent prior to BAE Systems winning a recompete in 2013.

TSA Awards L-3 Contract for EDS Systems

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has awarded L-3 Communications [LLL] a task order under an existing contract to provide 22 eXaminer 6700 explosive detection systems (EDS) for checked baggage screening at six airports. The order is for 17 medium-speed systems and five enhanced speed medium-speed systems and the units will replace existing systems supplied by L-3 that the agency says have reached the end of their useful life. The recipient airports are Boston Logan International, Bismarck Municipal, Northwest Florida Regional, Baltimore-Washington International, Manchester-Boston Regional, and Orlando International. The value of the award was not disclosed although the systems typically sell for about $1 million apiece.

Magal Nabs $4M in Contracts for Security Applications

Magal Security Systems says it has received several new contracts worth more than $4 million for various homeland security applications. The largest award, worth over $2 million, is for a dual technology smart fence in Israel that includes both taut wire and vibration sensors. The company also received about $500,000 in orders to provide its fiber sensor technology to secure industrial sites and sea ports in Southeast Asia and the U.S. Magal says the balance of the orders were for a mix of products and projects including the expansion of a Ramat Ha’sharon safe city project in Israel and a smart robust grid to secure water canals in a nuclear power plant located in the Far East. “Following our strategic acquisition of long range fiber optic PIDS (perimeter intrusion detection system) technology, we are definitely seeing strong traction for this technology,” says Eitan Livneh, president and CEO of Magal S3.

Massachusetts Awards GD Contract for Next Gen 911 System

General Dynamics [GD] says its Information Technology business unit has received a contract to develop, implement and operate the Massachusetts Next Generation 9-1-1 emergency communications system. The Internet Protocol-based system, dubbed NG9-1-1, will allow emergency personnel to accept service requests through new technologies, providing real-time data and communication. The system will permit emergency service requests from existing public networks through new and emerging modes of communication and devices. It will also integrate Geographical Information System data into all emergency service requests to accurately map a caller’s location. The system will comply with the National Emergency Number Association’s i3 architecture standards, enabling local and nationwide interoperability.

American Security Programs Wins $86M DHS Award for Security Guard Services

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Protective Service has awarded American Security Programs a potential $86 million contract to provide protective security officer services throughout Upstate New York. The security guards will be required to be armed and some posts may require screening of visitors using X-Ray machines and magnetometers.

Army Expands Use of AtHoc’s Emergency Alert System

At Hoc, Inc. says that the Army has expanded its use of the company’s IWSAlerts for unified emergency mass notifications to installation in multiple locations outside of the Continental U.S. The expansion is occurring under the Emergency Management Modernization Program (EM2P) that is managed by Leidos [LDOS]. AtHoc says that under the expansion, the value of which wasn’t disclosed, 150,000 Army personnel and their families at garrisons in the Europe region will be protected by emergency alerts. The Army currently uses AtHoc’s emergency alert capabilities at facilities throughout the U.S. “We look forward to continuing our relationship with Leidos and the EM2P team as the Army leads the way within the government and DoD to deliver next-generation crisis communications to protect lives and property, even to remote areas of the world where troops are deployed,” says David Brown, vice president, Defense and Intelligence Group for AtHoc.

TSA Awards SBG Contract to Support Education Program

SBG Technology Solutions says the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has awarded the company a multi-year contract to support the agency’s Higher Education Opportunity Program with project management, technical consulting, financial management, performance measurement, and strategic communications support. The value of the award wasn’t disclosed. The program partners accredited colleges and universities with federal airports and allows Transportation Security Officers to take associate degree-level courses in homeland security and related disciplines.