Unisys adds Arinc to TSA project

Transportation Security Administration

Unisys Corp. selected Arinc Inc. as a subcontractor on the company's agreement with the Transportation Security Administration to secure access to airports nationwide.

TSA, an arm of the Homeland Security Department, awarded a 20-month contract to Unisys in October to complete the Airport Access Control Pilot Program, which will test technologies to increase access control and security for at least 20 airports.

The value of Arinc's first cost-plus, fixed-fee task order is $8 million, with a contract ceiling of $17 million. The 20-month period of performance contains no options.

Biometric techniques such as fingerprint identification, iris scanning and facial recognition, and devices such as next-generation surveillance cameras, may be included in the program. Technologies would be deployed at key access points throughout airports to ensure that only those with proper credentials are allowed into secure areas.

Arinc, based in Annapolis, Md., specializes in transportation communications and systems engineering. The company develops information processing systems and provides systems integration.