By Calvin Biesecker
The Department of Homeland Security on Friday said Reveal Imaging Technologies and OSI Systems [OSIS] have received awards for explosives detection systems (EDS) and checkpoint X-ray systems, respectively, using funds approved by Congress earlier this year under the economic stimulus package.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) awarded Reveal $47 million for 123 reduced size EDS under an existing contract the company has with the agency. The reduced size EDS are typically used at small and medium size airports in the United States and can be deployed in lobbies or similar to inline configurations as part of the baggage handling system.
Reveal has basically owned the market for the reduced size EDS but figures to have competition from both General Electric [GE] and L-3 Communications [LLL] in the next year or two as both firms are developing electronic baggage screening systems that have smaller footprints than the larger EDS. GE and L-3 are the only companies supplying TSA with the larger EDS systems, which typically are found in large and medium-size airports, both in lobby and inline configurations.
OSI Systems’ Rapiscan division received a $3 million award to supply 44 Advanced Technology (AT) X-ray systems that are used to screen carry-on bags, shoes and laptop computers at airport checkpoints. Rapiscan competes with Smiths Detection, a division of Britain’s Smiths Group, to supply the AT X-ray systems to TSA. However, Smith’s AT systems are made in Europe and the “Buy American” provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) preclude the company from receiving stimulus funds.
For the EDS and AT X-ray systems being acquired with the ARRA funds, TSA told Defense Daily they don’t yet have a delivery schedule or a list of airports the systems will be deployed to. DHS said that the reduced-size EDS are in use at more than 200 airports nationwide. TSA has deployed about 770 of the AT X-ray systems at U.S. airports.
“Investing in these critical airport security technologies demonstrates the Department’s ongoing commitment to using its Recovery Act funds to create jobs while making Americans safer,” Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said in a statement. “This Recovery Act funding has enabled the TSA to accelerate its efforts to deploy the latest and most effective technology to airports across the country while simultaneously helping to reinvigorate our economy.”
TSA received $1 billion in ARRA funds to spend on aviation security projects. Of that total, $700 million is dedicated to screening checked bags and $300 million for checkpoint screening. The awards announced Friday represent TSA’s first contracts using the ARRA funds.