The Transportation Security Administration has deployed 300 next-generation baggage scanners at 142 U.S. airport checkpoints and plans to acquire another 242 of the systems in the current fiscal year, which would get the agency to about 25 percent of its deployment goal for the computed tomography (CT) scanners, says the acting head of TSA.
Completing deployment of the first batch of the checkpoint CT systems marks an important milestone by TSA toward its goal of installing more than 2,000 of the systems.
The CT technology allows operators to virtually rotate an image of a passenger’s carry-on bag and its contents to better check for potential threats. The systems also have automatic detection capabilities to help an operator.
The improved detection means that far fewer bags are being resent through the scanning equipment, thereby speeding passengers along their journeys, and also requires less touching by operators, which enhances their safety.
“CT technology provides superior detection capability, is more convenient for passengers, and may eliminate the requirement to take electronics, liquids, aerosols, and gels out of carry-on bags,” Darby LaJoye, the acting administrator of TSA, told the House Appropriations Homeland Security subcommittee earlier this month.
The deployment of the first 300 checkpoint CT systems in mid-April comes about two years after TSA awarded Smiths Detection a contract worth about $97 million for its HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX systems. The initial shakeout testing and deployments were delayed due to a protest.
While checkpoint CT is a priority for TSA given the technology’s promise of enhancing security while making the checkpoint experience more convenient for travelers, the pace of deployments appears to be government as usual. If procurement rates stay between 250 to 300 systems per year, it will be at least another five years before TSA completes installations.
LaJoye said that in fiscal year 2021, “TSA intends to test, procure, and complete deployment planning for approximately 242 additional mid-size CT systems using available funding.”
The checkpoint CT program is currently called AT/CT, for Advanced Technology/Computed Tomography, and is transitioning to the Checkpoint Property Screening System or CPSS. Under CPSS, TSA plans to procure various configurations of CT systems, including AT/CT, base, mid-size and full-size.
A TSA spokesman tells HSR that the next award for CT systems is planned for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2021, which would be in the July through September timeframe. Eventually, multiple CPSS contracts are planned to reach full operational capability, he said.
Kerry Toscano, the director of the contracting team for TSA’s Security Technology Acquisition Division, said at a May 4 small business acquisition planning event held virtually that the agency plans to award contracts for CPSS base and CPSS full-size in the first quarter of FY ’22, which is in the October to December period of 2021.
The currently deployed CT systems at checkpoints are integrated with standard security lanes but in the future, TSA plans to deploy CT systems with different variations of Automated Security Lanes, which feature multiple divestment stations, mechanized conveyors, automated diverters for suspect bags, and automated bin return systems.
In addition to Smiths Detection, Analogic, Integrated Defense & Security Solutions, and Leidos [LDOS] are competing for the checkpoint CT awards. TSA Administrator David Pekoske, who is currently acting as the deputy DHS secretary, has previously said that that agency plans to buy up to 2,400 of the scanners.
In other technology matters, LaJoye also said:
- With $3 million appropriated by Congress for TSA to expand its counter-unmanned aircraft system testing efforts, the agency has selected Los Angeles International Airport to evaluate technologies to detect, track and identify small UAS operating in and around the nation’s largest airports. TSA is already establishing a counter-UAS testbed at Miami International Airport. LaJoye told the panel that reports and incidents of small UAS operating in and around airports continue to rise. He defined incidents as being when a pilot has to take evasive action due to a UAS sighting.
- Through mid-April, TSA has deployed 1,053 Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) systems at airport travel document check sites and plans to buy another 1,001 units in FY ’21. The CAT systems automatically verify the authenticity of a traveler’s driver’s license. IDEMIA supplies the CAT systems. Toscano said at the May 4 event that TSA will be soliciting for a CAT-2 requirement for competition FY ’22. The release is estimated for the first or second quarter of FY ’22, she said.
- TSA is also expanding pilot evaluations of CAT systems integrated with cameras so automatically ensure the person presenting their driver’s license matches the image on the license. He said the FY ’21 procurement will include 120 CAT-Camera units. TSA has evaluated the CAT-C unit at Washington Reagan National Airport and will also use the technology at Miami, Indianapolis International and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airports, he said.