Provides Stakeholders With Choices While Maintaining Security

Channeling service provider agreements with three award recipients were announced late last week by TSA. American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), L-1 and Telos ID received the awards. Through aviation channeling service providers, employee data is collected and submitted to TSA to conduct employee threat assessments necessary to work in an aviation environment.

TSA requires threat assessments be conducted for all airport and airline employees requiring access to the secure areas of an airport, including baggage workers, ground maintenance workers and restaurant and retail employees. These agreements satisfy Congressional, stakeholder and airport operator requests that airports and airlines be given a choice of service providers and that there be competition between service providers.

“TSA has worked closely with industry to ensure a smooth transition of this important system, which helps keep our transportation systems secure by thoroughly vetting aviation workers,” said TSA Assistant Administrator for Transportation Threat Assessment and Credentialing Greg Wellen. “By expanding our channeling service agreement to AAAE, L-1 and Telos ID, we are providing choices to our aviation partners through open competition.”

The agreement awarded today succeeds a non-competitive agreement granted solely to AAAE in 2003. In addition to collecting and submitting employee information necessary for threat assessments, airport and aircraft operators may also use aviation channeling service providers for other functions such as training.

Award recipients will now undergo thorough qualification testing and auditing to ensure compliance with policy and security requirements before TSA grants them the authority to operate.

FMI: www.tsa.gov