In March, 2019, TSA awarded Smiths Detection a contract for 300 checkpoint CT systems — the first installment in what will arguably be the largest upgrade in US aviation checkpoint security since 9/11 and one of the most important US homeland security technology initiatives, period.
I asked TSA public affairs for an update on where things stand:
HST: How many Smiths Detection CTiX checkpoint CT systems have been deployed to date at US airports?
TSA: As of Monday, 26 October 2020 there are 246 Smiths Deployed Units at Federalized Airports.
HST: Which US airports have deployed the CTiX to date?
TSA: The following 108 Airports have a Smiths CT System. ABQ, ACY, AGS, ALB, ANC, ATL, AVL, AZA, BDL, BHM, BIL, BOI, BTR, BUF, BUR, BWI, BZN, CAE, CAK, CHA, CHS, CLE, CLT, CMH, COS, CRP, CVG, DAL, DAY, DCA, DFW, DSM, DTW, ECP, ELP, EWR, FAR, FLL, FNT, GEG, GRB, GRR, GSO, HNL, HOU, HRL, IAD, IAH, ICT, IND, ISP, JAC, JAX, JFK, LAS, LAX, LEX, LGB, LIH, LIT, MCI, MCO, MDT MDW, MEM, MFE, MFR, MHT, MIA, MOB, MSP, MSY, OAK, OGG, OKC, OMA,ONT, ORD, ORF, PBI, PDX, PHL, PHX, PIE, PIT, PSP, PVD, RDU, RIC, RNO, ROC, RSW, SAN, SAT, SAV, SEA, SFB, SFO, SJC, SJU, SLC, SMF, SNA, STL, SYR, TPA, TUL, TUS
HST: Does TSA have a target date by which it expects that all 300 systems will be deployed?
TSA: TSA expects to have the remaining 54 Smiths CT Systems installed by Mid-January 2021.
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In addition to the information provided above by TSA, other things to keep in mind:
The APS program. In addition to the 300 Smiths Detection checkpoint CT systems already acquired, TSA is now running a new acquisition program for “Accessible Property Screening (APS), which encompasses the acquisition of the checkpoint CT technology together with “Automated Screening Lanes” or ASLs.
Importantly, APS is not restricted to the CT OEM’s — Smiths, Analogic, IDSS, and LEIDOS.
TSA is allowing ASL vendors such as Vanderlande and Scarabee to respond as prime contractors to the APS solicitation. Furthermore, vendors can propose three different CT plus ASL configurations.
My Take:
Kudos to TSA for trying to drive competition and innovation. But the way APS is structured means a lot of work for TSA staff evaluating qualification data, doing operational testing, and ensuring that the different CT plus ASL configurations work flawlessly — during a pandemic and HQ office move to boot.
