TSA Issues BAA for On-Person Screening; Looking to Improve Existing AIT Systems

The Transportation Security Administration has issued a Targeted Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) requesting white papers with concepts to provide “near-term improvement of current security operations and capabilities” for on-person screening (OPS), to include shoe-scanning. In addition to footwear screening, the other technical topic areas under the BAA include enhanced detection performance and throughput, material discrimination, improved data visualization, synthetic data creation, and new countermeasure systems/process. The agency’s current OPS systems are the Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) body scanners and walk-through metal detectors. The focus on near-term improvements suggests that TSA is looking to upgrade its existing AIT systems, which are supplied by Leidos [LDOS], with third party capabilities. TSA says that if it selects a white paper, it will form a statement of work for a contract award. The agency also says that submissions must show a “clear path to practical TSA applications within 12 to 18 months.” A solicitation is expected in the third or fourth quarter of fiscal year 2021 and an award date is still to be determined, Kerry Toscano, director of the contracting team for TSA’s Security Technology Acquisition Division, said May 4 at a small business presentation hosted by the agency. Notice ID: 70T04021BAAA7573N001. Respond by June 23. Contact: Megan Kesler,

[email protected].

DHS CWMD Office Issues RFI to Screen Travelers for Emerging Infectious Disease

The Department of Homeland Security Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Office has issued a Request for Information aimed at screening travelers at key U.S. international airports for the threat of emerging infectious diseases. The CWMD Office says the biological detection screening would support U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s traveler entry procedures. Vendors responding to the RFI must be able to train, exercise and maintain a group of qualified emergency medical services personnel to serve as enhanced screeners and can respond to a request for service within 12 to 24 hours of notice. Respond by May 17. Contact: Chiara Best, [email protected], 202-447-5702.

Coast Guard Issues RFP for Waterways Commerce Cutter

The Coast Guard has issued a Request for Proposal for its Waterways Commerce Cutter (WWC), which will be the service’s new river buoy and inland construction tenders. The solicitation for the design and construction of the WWC is a small business set-aside. The winner of the WWC contract will design the river buoy and inland construction tenders to have 95 percent commonality. Bids are due by July 30 and an award is expected in early 2022. The current inland tender fleet of 35 boats has an average vessel age of over 55 years. The WWC program envisions a 27 boat buy. Notice ID: 70Z02321RPRT00300. Contact: James Platner. [email protected], 410-570-2261.