RFI - INS Boarding Pass Materials Used for Testing.pdf

Department of Homeland Security Transportation Security Administration

Office of Inspection Boarding Materials to be Used for Testing

Subject:

Request for Information (RFI) for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Office of Inspection (INS) regarding identity Boarding Materials to be used for testing.

1. DESCRIPTION

Background:

The TSA INS is requesting information and conducting market research to Boarding Materials to be Used for Testing, both in the government and commercial capabilities.

The Transportation Security Administration screens all passengers and baggage traveling on commercial flights from the 450+ federalized airports in the United States.

Traditional methods currently in use are: X-ray machines, explosive detection systems, physical search, body scanners using various RF techniques. Additionally, TSA is also expanding the numbers of airports participating in TSA Pre™ which expedites the passenger screening process through pre-screening and other risk-based assessments.

In 2018, TSA consolidated covert testing expertise within Inspection (INS) as an approach to better utilize testing resources and build a capability to continuously inform our organizations leaders on the overall effectiveness of screening operations. In 2019, INS began conducting Index testing in order to gather sufficient data to provide the Senior TSA Leadership.

Objectives:

The TSA is requesting information on technical and operational capabilities that provide boarding materials to be used for testing, including physical boarding passes, digital boarding passes, boarding tags, and other documentation required to facilitate covert testing to support the various testing programs in INS. These capabilities would assist TSA in boarding materials used for testing will need to look, feel, and behave like genuine authentic boarding materials, which would be issued by airlines and airports nationwide, with the most prevalent airlines utilized in addition to some local and regional airlines as needed. The anticipated annual (12-month) need for combined various boarding materials would be approximately up to 25,000 boarding pass material items.

The contractor would provide all personnel and materials (including applicable equipment) to create all boarding material tags in accordance with the anticipated locations by airport category, region, type of checkpoint screening event, maximum number of occurrences, and number of days/event. The contractor will be provided by the government with the following:

• The government will supply a means to create a digital signature.

• The government will supply no more than two (2) USB tokens with a government digital signature.

• The government will supply an application to access the USB token(s) and provide the digital signature hash.

• Updates to the Boarding Pass Scanner firmware to read the digital signature.

3. RESPONSES TO THIS RFI

The following sections provide a recommended outline for a response to this RFI. This outline is intended to minimize the effort of the respondent, and structure the responses for ease of analysis by the Government.

Section 1 – Corporate Expertise

Briefly describe the company, products and services, history, ownership, financial information, and other information deemed relevant.

Section 2 – Capabilities and Conceptual Alternatives

The Government is interested in understanding the capabilities that are available to address the concepts described in the “Objectives” section of this RFI. The Government is also interested in conceptual alternatives or innovations for the concepts described in the Objectives section. TSA encourages creativity, efficiencies, innovation, and alternate approaches to meet TSA requirements.

Responses to this RFI should discuss the full technology required (hardware and software) to deliver the functionality defined in the Objectives section. Additionally, responses should address IT security-related issues, privacy, and experience with obtaining government security certifications and authority to operate. Responses should also describe operational capabilities and discuss the feasibility and tradeoffs for various capabilities, including cost tradeoffs as well as maintenance and/or recurring costs. An estimate of the time required to design, develop and implement a full enrollment services capability (technology and operations) should be provided in the response.

Section 3 – Experience

Describe three key projects the company has participated in that are similar in size, scope, and complexity to the TSA environment. Briefly describe the customer environment, application solution designed/implemented, project management methodology, security requirements, best practices implemented, and relevant lessons learned. In addition, vendors should indicate their General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) contract number, if applicable. Indicate the size (e.g., number of enrollment sites, transaction volumes, scope, and complexity of the efforts cited. Include a description of the dollar value of each contract/project and the total cost to implement a given solution. While not required, experience within the Federal Government arena should be provided if applicable, including experience with Federal requirements/standards as well as certification and accreditation (C&A) processes for system to achieve authority to operate (ATO).

4. REVIEW OF VENDOR RESPONSES

The Government will review vendor responses for market research purposes only. The Government does not intend to provide a response to white papers submitted for this RFI, but based on vendor submissions; the Government may potentially arrange a technical information exchange, demonstration and/or pilot of proposed solutions to further future requirements definition. Responses to the RFI will not be returned.

5. DISCLAIMER

This RFI does not represent an official Acquisition Plan, nor does it commit the U.S.

Government to any course of action in the future. In accordance with FAR 15.202(e), this RFI is issued solely for market research, planning, and information purposes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to enter into a contractual agreement, nor will the Government pay for information solicited hereunder. The Government will protect the information shared in the RFI response from disclosure to other parties.

Each respondent, by submitting a response to this RFI, agrees that any cost incurred by it in responding to this request or in support of activities associated with this RFI shall be the sole responsibility of respondent. The Government shall incur no obligations or liabilities whatsoever, to anyone, for any costs or expenses incurred by the respondent in responding to this RFI.

6. VENDOR SUBMISSION OF RESPONSES AND CONTACT INFORMATION

Written Responses shall be prepared using Times New Roman, 10 pt. font, 1 inch margins, and 8.5” by 11” paper. Responses shall not exceed fifteen (15) pages in length, including all images, data displays, charts graphs and tables per concept. The submission of standard marketing material is acceptable but will be considered in the page length.

Written responses (capability statements) shall be submitted no later than 2:00 pm ET on Wednesday, May 17th, 2024. If a submission is received after this due date, it may or may not be included in the market research process.

Offers must submit their information in electronic versions to Susan Mielke at Susan.Mielke@tsa.dhs.gov and William Hipkins William.Hipkins@tsa.dhs.gov in either read-only Word or PDF format. Please contact Susan Mielke via e-mail should you have any questions related to this RFI. ---- (No telephone calls please).

All Technical Evaluation / COR questions must be submitted by Offerors in electronic versions to William Hipkins at William.Hipkins@tsa.dhs.gov in either read-only Word or PDF format.

mailto:Susan.Mielke@tsa.dhs.gov mailto:William.Hipkins@tsa.dhs.gov mailto:William.Hipkins@tsa.dhs.gov