TSA taps small biz

The Transportation Security Administration has awarded a $1.58 million contract to Systems Integration Inc. to provide services and personnel for the agency's Consumer Response Center.

TSA established the center to field public comments, suggestions and questions on a range of issues, including inappropriate security screening. Every week, it gets about 2,000 phone calls, 2,500 e-mails, and 200 letters and faxes.

The 15-month deal — the largest to go to a small business as a prime contractor for TSA — has an option to extend work for another 12 months for $1.31 million.

"It is gratifying that we are involved with the small business community," said James Loy, acting undersecretary of transportation for security, in an Oct. 21 news release. "We look forward to stepping up that involvement and seeing more contracts awarded to small businesses in the future."

The project was set aside for proposals from small businesses. Systems Integration emerged as the company offering the best value to the government, TSA said.