The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) yesterday said it has awarded Trinity Technology Group a potential five-year, $10.9 million contract, to provide aviation screening services at seven small airports in Montana.

The base value for the first year of the award is $2.6 million.

Trinity, which is based in Northern Virginia, already supplies private screening services to two other airports under TSA’s Screening Partnership Program. The other airports are Tupelo Regional, Miss., and Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport, Calif. The Tupelo contract was awarded in May 2006 and the Sonoma contract in June 2007.

The seven Montana airports all began offering commercial services within the past 10 months. They are Frank Wiley Field (WLS), Sidney Richland Regional (SDY), Dawson Community Airport (GDV), L.M. Clayton Airport (OLF), Wokal Field (GGW), Havre City County Airport (HVR), and Lewiston Municipal Airport (LWT). Trinity will provide checkpoint and checked baggage screening at the airports.

So far 16 airports and a heliport are operating with private, instead of TSA, screeners under the SPP program. The program allows airports to “opt out” from using TSA screeners in favor of private screening services. TSA’s federal security directors still have responsibility for overseeing contractor performance agency security standards.