TSA
29-02
June 18, 2002
Phone: 202-493-1255 or 202-493-1253
TSA Announces
Private Security Screening Pilot Program
The
Under Secretary of Transportation for Security John W. Magaw today announced
Kansas City International Airport was selected to participate in the Private
Security Screening Pilot Program -- intended to test the feasibility of
returning security screening to private contractors at airports.
Kansas
City International Airport was among four others selected for the program, which
are San Francisco International, Greater Rochester International in New York,
Jackson Hole Airport in Wyoming, and Tupelo Airport in Mississippi.
“I’m
pleased to announce Kansas City International Airport as a selectee for this
pilot program,” said Magaw. “The
airports selected for this pilot program will be key in determining how TSA
moves forward in meeting provisions under the Aviation and Transportation
Security Act.”
The
Private Security Screening Pilot Program is designed to determine if, with the
proper government supervision and controls, contract-screening companies can
provide and maintain a performance level needed to match that are provided by a
federal workforce.
Qualified
private screening companies selected to participate in the pilot program are
required to establish a two-year contract with the Under Secretary.
During this period, that screening company will carry out the security
screening of passengers and property. Upon
completion of the pilot program, the Under Secretary will determine if the
private security company is meeting or exceeding the standards of the federal
workforce, and if so, the airport can continue to use the private security
company.
The
Aviation and Transportation Security Act, Section 108, requires TSA to establish
the pilot program. The Act requires
that the private screening company be owned and controlled by a citizen of the
United States. The Act also sets
forth the provision that TSA may terminate any contract entered into with a
private screening company that has repeatedly failed to comply with any
standard, regulation, directive, order, law, or contract applicable to hiring or
training personnel or to the provision of screening at the airport.
In addition, contractors are required to meet the same employment
standards and requirements as federal security screeners.
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