Passenger Self Screening RFI Q and A.pdf

1. What are the requirements for a functioning prototype to be considered suitable for pilot testing? (RFI question 5)

The system may be piloted in an operational environment. It must conform to relevant safety standards to be deployed. In such a pilot, the prototype must be sufficiently mature to provide both the vendor and TSA useful feedback on the viability of the solution for further development. It does not need to meet TSA certification standards but should have all subsystems developed (hardware, detection algorithms, etc.) to assess performance relative to TSA requirements.

2. What is the current TSA Precheck detection performance as stated in the RFI document?

(Background information)

TSA uses an enhanced metal detector, multi-view X-ray systems, and electronic trace detection systems as part of the standard Pre

3. What is considered as a self-sufficient experience as mentioned in the RFI document?

(Background information)

Passengers will complete the identity verification, divestiture, and screening process without engagement with TSOs. TSOs should only be involved if an alarm cannot be resolved by the automated system.

4. Does this concept include divestiture and thus scanning of shoes?

Current pre-check requirements include metal detection in shoes. This concept must include at least this level of performance.

5. Following the concept as described in the initial RFI, is it assumed there should be a passenger screening device for each passenger divesting? Acknowledging the fact that deploying only one device at front of the divestiture process will mean a serial loading set up, impacting the performance of this process significantly.

The intention is to deploy many screening systems in parallel.

6. Should all screening technologies to be used in the PSS-System already be accepted and approved? Can other emerging technologies be suggested?

Other emerging technologies may be suggested. If the technologies are different than what DHS is currently familiar with, additional supporting information regarding its viability in the security environment would be appreciated.

7. Is there an anticipated or target performance set for the PSS-System?

a. Time per passenger

b. Checkpoint throughput

c. Other KPI’s?

Not at this time, DHS is undergoing requirements development in parallel to this RFI and plan to use the responses to this RFI and other activities to develop performance targets.

8. Should the PSS-System be feasible for people traveling together of families? Or is it targeting single pax handling?

DHS would consider concepts with either approach.

9. How many times/goes does pax get for self-resolution of alarms?

DHS would solicit vendor recommendations for concepts of operations

10. Is there an overall timeline for the development?

DHS would like to develop prototypes on an accelerated development cycle. However, this RFI is requesting industry suggest how quickly a prototype could be developed. (Question 5).

11. Can it have several iterations in development?

a. Should the proposal be fully integrated form the start?

DHS is still developing the research and development strategy around this concept. DHS would solicit vendor recommendations for the best way to achieve the proposed end state.

12. When receiving the answers, are we also receiving the Q&A from other parties?

All questions and answers received are posted to beta SAM to ensure that all interested parties have access to the same information.