Smiths Detection Inc. today announced its support of two bills passed by the U.S. Congress aimed at improving how security-related technology is developed and deployed for US airports.
The Transportation Security Acquisition Reform Act, S. 1893, and the Aviation Security Stakeholder Participation Act, S. 1804, will streamline the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) acquisition and decision-making process enabling suppliers to better meet its needs.
S. 1893 would require TSA to develop a public five-year strategic technology investment plan; justify to Congress major acquisitions of security-related technology and report to Congress incidents of schedule delays, cost overruns, or technical failures; establish measures to manage and track equipment in inventory to reduce costly storage of unusable or outdated technologies; and report annually on its goals for contracting with small and disadvantaged businesses.
S. 1804 establishes within the TSA an advisory committee of industry stakeholders to make recommendations on issues related to aviation security.
The bills now go on to President Obama for his signature.
Terry Gibson, President, Smiths Detection Inc., said: “Smiths Detection believes these no-cost, common sense bills will benefit the transportation industry by fostering private sector engagement and coordination with TSA, strategic planning, and transparent technology procurements, which will save taxpayer dollars and serve to protect the traveling public.”
Smiths Detection Inc. designs and makes advanced systems and solutions to detect and identify threats including explosives, chemical agents, biohazards, nuclear, radiation, narcotics, weapons and contraband. It manufactures specialized products and manages programs for customers such as the US Department of Defense and Homeland Security Agencies. Smiths Detection Inc. has its US headquarters in Edgewood, MD, and partners with federal and state government agencies and first responders to strengthen homeland security and safeguard the military. It is the US subsidiary of Smiths Detection, a world leader in safety and security technologies, and part of Smiths Group, a global technology business. Smiths Group employs some 23.000 people around the world, including more than 9,000 in the U.S. where it operates around 100 sites in 40 states.