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PSP ARRA activities are focused on expediting the procurement and deployment of passenger screening technology to security checkpoints.

Advanced Technology and Universal Conveyor Systems

TSA intends to allocate nearly $130 million in ARRA funds and award one or more contracts via a competitive process for the purchase and installation of AT X-ray systems at passenger checkpoints. AT refers to the next generation of X-ray equipment including the ability to examine dimensions and density of objects within a carry-on bag. AT systems will enable TSA to attain a higher level of threat detection while sustaining checkpoint throughput and personnel/staffing requirements.

Whole Body Imagers

Over $30 million in ARRA funds will be allocated via one or more competitively awarded contracts for the purchase and installation of whole body imaging technology. WBIs generate high-resolution images that allow TSOs to screen a passenger for all types of concealed weapons (metal and non-metal) in place of a metal detection wand inspection and physical pat-down. Whereas metal detectors only note the presence of metal, WBIs show the TSO where any potential threat items are on a passenger’s body. These technologies will enable TSA to screen simultaneously and more thoroughly for both weapons and explosives, while protecting passengers’ privacy.

Bottled Liquid Scanners

A Bottled Liquids Scanner (BLS) is a hand-held or table-top device with the capability to discriminate liquid explosives or flammable liquids from common, benign liquids carried by passengers. Following the unsuccessful August 2006 United Kingdom liquid explosives plot, TSA immediately banned all liquids because current X-ray systems were unable to distinguish liquid explosives from common liquids. Based on a risk assessment, the ban was later modified to TSA’s 3-1-1 policy which limits volumes of liquids in carry-on bags. Today, TSA deploys BLSs capable of analyzing substances within a bottle by aiming sensors at the bottle opening and analyzing the intake of vapors to screen allowable liquids in excess of the volume limits including medications, baby food, and baby formula.

Next Generation Explosive Trace Detectors

TSA will allocate approximately $18 million to support the replacement of legacy Explosives Trace Detectors (ETDs) reaching the end of their useful life cycle. TSOs use ETDs to examine articles for explosives residue. A swab is used to collect samples, which are then analyzed for traces of explosives residue. Next Generation ETD equipment purchased with ARRA funding has enhanced explosive detection capabilities including greater sensitivity and a larger range of detectable explosives.

Operations and Management

PSP will allocate over $95 million in ARRA funds for additional support services required to successfully procure and deploy the technology.

Advanced Surveillance Program (Closed Circuit Television)

TSA will provide approximately $8 million in ARRA funding to the Advanced Surveillance Program (ASP) to acquire surveillance capabilities by enhancing the airport’s current/existing surveillance system with additional equipment necessary to achieve TSA’s security and recordation requirements of passenger checkpoints and checked baggage areas.

These closed circuit surveillance systems are an integral component in both TSA and airport operations, providing value in terms of threat detection, personnel and facility security, loss prevention, emergency response, risk mitigation, employee performance, and other legal and investigative purposes. Remote monitoring enables TSOs to detect and prevent the placement or transport of explosives/devices and other threats by increasing situational awareness of activities occurring in critical airport locations.

TSA will utilize several processes to ensure that cost, schedule, and program performance is assessed, that areas of high risk are identified and addressed, and that the expected outcomes are being achieved.

Program Management Reviews

The Assistant Administrator (AA) for the Office of Process and Technology (OPT) will continue to conduct quarterly Program Management Reviews (PMRs) of the program. During the PMRs, the Program Manager (PM) reiterates the program description and reviews a mapping of office, program, and project goals. A comprehensive progress report is presented, including resource utilization, budget execution, spend plan changes, schedule updates, completed and upcoming milestones, procurement statuses, project statuses, and high-level program risks. Open discussions are held and any necessary corrective actions are assigned and initiated.


AA Weekly Reporting

Weekly reports are submitted to the OPT AA, including a summary of key accomplishments, outstanding risks and issues, financial status, deployment status of equipment purchased, and project schedules.

TSA ARRA Guidance Team / Senior Accountable Official

TSA has chartered an ARRA Guidance Team comprised of senior agency executives and chaired by the agency’s Senior Accountable Official for ARRA. The Team meets routinely to monitor, direct, and prioritize efforts at TSA and to ensure the successful implementation of all guidance, policies, and procedures set forth in the ARRA, as well as those required by OMB, DHS, and other applicable laws, policies, and regulations. Further, the ARRA Guidance Team will ensure that all activities and outcomes are consistent with the transparency and accountability tenets of the ARRA and that TSA meets or exceeds the expectations of DHS, the Administration, and Congress related to the implementation of the ARRA.

TSA ARRA Working Group / Senior Accountable Official Designee

TSA has established an intra-agency working group including subject matter experts (SMEs) and the key individuals responsible for the planning, prioritization, execution, reporting, and auditing of ARRA programs, projects, and related activities within TSA. The group is chaired by the Senior Accountable Official Designee and will meet on a regular basis to share information and coordinate tasks and activities associated with the implementation of the ARRA at TSA.

DHS Acquisition Management System

DHS Acquisition Directive 102 (AD-102) establishes and defines the acquisition management system for all types of acquisitions. The policy outlines the review processes, Acquisition Decision Authorities, framework, documentation, and common acquisition standards and practices required to successfully manage acquisition programs. PSP follows the AD-102 policy for all projects and will continue to do so for ARRA-funded activities.

Contract Program Management Reviews

TSA conducts regular contract PMRs for all contracts to review progress to date, planned activities, financial issues, and schedules. Contracting Officers (COs) and Contracting Officer Technical Representatives (COTRs) conduct these meetings with the contractor.

Financial Reporting

TSA will augment existing standard procedures to record, track, report, and audit all financial transactions associated with the ARRA funds. Weekly financial reports produced from data in TSA’s general ledger will be used to track progress against planned obligations and expenditures and to reconcile discrepancies.

TRANSPARENCY

TSA will promote the transparency objectives of the ARRA to the maximum extent practicable, consistent with national security interests and restrictions on release of proprietary information.

Communication

TSA will use Recovery.gov and the DHS Recovery Web site (www.dhs.gov/recovery) as primary locations for posting ARRA related reports and information. ARRA data will also be made available on Recovery.gov through system integrations with existing federal financial systems including FBO.gov, Grants.gov, and USAspending.gov. In addition, TSA will communicate through press releases and other media outreach.

Program Performance

TSA will report on an on-going basis, but not less than weekly, program performance including all major actions taken to date or major planned projects and activities, and major milestones reached. Report will be posted on the DHS Recovery Web site and will include a link from Recovery.gov.

Financial Information

To the greatest extent practical, TSA will make the recipients and uses of all ARRA funds transparent to the public, reported in a clear, accurate, and in a timely manner. TSA will identify all obligations and expenditures in existing financial and procurement systems with the unique treasury symbol to easily identify all transactions involving ARRA funds. TSA will provide total, cumulative obligation and gross outlay data in Weekly Financial and Activity Reports.

Contracts and Other Transaction Agreements

TSA will comply with all of the applicable requirements of the ARRA with respect to:
• posting of presolicitation notices;
• announcing contract awards;
• entering award-level transaction data into Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS);
• required actions for awards that are not fixed-price or competitive; and
• recipient reporting.

Accessibility

TSA will ensure that all content, including printable reports, are accessible to people with disabilities and meets requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Content will be published in standard, open document formats.

ACCOUNTABILITY

TSA has designated the Acting Assistant Administrator for the Office of Process and Technology/Chief Technology Officer as the Senior Accountable Official (SAO) for ARRA activities at TSA. The SAO has ultimate responsibility for the ensuring the successful achievement of the ARRA goals identified in this document.

To that end, the SAO will use existing processes described in Section IX. Monitoring/Evaluation, to hold managers accountable for their performance and the performance of the program. These measures help ensure that cost, schedule, and program performance is continually assessed, that areas of high risk are quickly identified and addressed, and that expected outcomes are being achieved.

In addition, employee Performance Agreements will be modified to include both organizational and individual goals aligned with the goals and objectives of this recovery plan. Progress made toward the achievement of these goals will be reviewed and assessed the supervisor as part of the employee’s annual and mid-cycle performance review.

This program does not include any investments in Federal Infrastructure.