Smiths Detection has protested the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) award in late September of a contract to a competitor for new X-Ray systems for use in screening carry-on bags at airport checkpoints in the United States.
TSA awarded the potential five-year, $67.1 million contract for Advanced Technology-2 (AT-2) X-Ray systems to OSI Systems’ [OSIS] Rapiscan Systems division on Sept. 27.
Smiths said in a press release that it “finds that TSA’s ‘Best Value’ analysis and evaluation of AT-2 submissions was flawed because it insufficiently weighted the comparatively lower risk and lower lifecycle costs of Smiths Detection’s more advanced technical solution.”
The protest was filed on Oct. 28 with the Government Accountability Office, which expects to decide on the matter by Feb. 5.
At the time of TSA’s award to Rapiscan, Smiths said that TSA ignored its own requirements for tougher detection requirements and minimized lifecycle costs. Lifecycle costs are supposed to be one important element in equipment purchases, according to the Department of Homeland Security’s acquisition regulations.
Rapiscan and Smiths are currently the primary providers of AT X-Ray systems to TSA. The AT-2 systems are improved versions of the checkpoint scanners. L-3 Communications [LLL] is also under contract with TSA for AT X-Ray systems but has sold far fewer to the agency than either of its competitors.
Smiths Detection is a division of Britain’s Smiths Group.