Credential Authentication Technology (CAT)

Added: Sep 18, 2013 4:40 pm Modified: Sep 20, 2013 11:02 amTrack Changes Draft Solicitation Documents:

TSA is prepared to release non-SSI redacted draft versions of the following documents: Functional Requirements Document (FRD), STIP Interface Requirements Document (IRD), and TSE IT Security Requirements document. Any interested parties should request these documents via email. The draft Request for Proposal (RFP) is available as an attachment to this announcement. Please note that these documents are being provided for data gathering and planning purposes only, this announcement does not constitute a solicitation and should not be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or award a contract.

Interested parties are encouraged to submit questions and comments on the provided documents in writing to TSA no later than 3:00pm EDT on Friday, September 27, 2013. Respondents should not anticipate a direct reply from TSA as a result of feedback provided, but all questions and comments will be taken into consideration before these documents are finalized. The Government will not reimburse any respondent for costs associated with providing feedback as a result of this announcement.

The target release for the RFP is October 2013.

Added: Sep 18, 2013 4:40 pm Draft Solicitation Documents:

TSA is prepared to release non-SSI redacted draft versions of the following documents: Request for Proposal (RFP), Functional Requirements Document (FRD), STIP Interface Requirements Document (IRD), and TSE IT Security Requirements document. Any interested parties should request these documents via email. Please note that these documents are being provided for data gathering and planning purposes only, this announcement does not constitute a solicitation and should not be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or award a contract.

Interested parties are encouraged to submit questions and comments on the provided documents in writing to TSA no later than 3:00pm EDT on Friday, September 27, 2013. Respondents should not anticipate a direct reply from TSA as a result of feedback provided, but all questions and comments will be taken into consideration before these documents are finalized. The Government will not reimburse any respondent for costs associated with providing feedback as a result of this announcement.

The target release for the RFP is October 2013.

Added: Sep 06, 2013 2:04 pm Industry Update:

TSA has concluded meetings and demonstrations with a number of RFI respondents that showcased diverse technical solutions for CAT. The CAT technical documentation that includes the Functional Requirements Document (FRD), STIP Interface Requirements Document (IRD), and TSE IT Security Requirements document is nearing completion, and the target release of the RFP is October 2013. TSA intends to release non-SSI redacted draft versions of these documents by the end of September to provide industry with additional information prior to release of the official RFP and solicitation. Industry will be invited to provide comments on these documents to be taken into consideration before they are finalized.

Added: Jul 26, 2013 11:01 am Modified: Aug 05, 2013 9:51 amTrack Changes Synopsis:
 

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), intends to compete its requirement for Credential Authentication Technology (CAT). The CAT system will ensure that only legitimate passengers, airport personnel, affiliated airline crews, non-traveling passengers using a gate pass (Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs) and Federal Air Marshals (FAMs)) gain access to sterile airport areas. The CAT system must have the capability to assess a wide variety of credentials and display the authentication results to the TSO. The CAT system will:

(1) Be used by a TSO, or other qualified user, to verify the identity of individual passengers and ensure that passengers are authorized to enter the sterile area of the passenger checkpoint;

(2) Authenticate passenger ID documents and display authentication results to the operator, as well as obtain and display the passenger vetting status;

(3) Ensure that the passenger is ticketed appropriately to progress through security screening and enter the sterile area. In cases where passengers are not immediately cleared for access by the CAT system, the system will provide users with sufficient detail (alert descriptions, etc.) to enable effective resolution; and

(4) Include hardware that will integrate the credentials scanner, the IT solution to authenticate credentials, the graphic user interface (GUI), and the API.

CAT systems will be delivered to sites throughout the United States and its territories. TSA envisions the CAT system as a flexible system that can be deployed in different configurations depending on the needs and constraints of each checkpoint environment.

The estimated release date for the solicitation is Fall 2013. The Request for Proposal (RFP) will be issued on this same FedBizOpps webpage, with the exception of certain RFP attachments which are considered Sensitive Security Information (SSI). In order to be approved to view these attachments upon RFP release, a contractor must meet the requirements and complete the steps listed below prior to 23 August 2013 at 3:00 PM Eastern. Contractors are ineligible to view said attachments until they comply with the SSI process.

SSI Vetting Requirements:

1. Provide the CAGE code of the Contractor's facility that will manage the proposal.

2. Designate a Senior Corporate Official, who is responsible for serving as the single point of contact for SSI and certifying to the Contracting Officer every 60 days that all appropriate protections have been followed, only authorized individuals have access to the sensitive information, and that those individuals with access adequately understand their responsibilities to protect the information. The designation must be stated in a letter format and signed by the Senior Corporate Official.

3. Provide the following information for all individuals who need to view SSI; provide this information via email in one password protected Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, and send the password in a separate email:

o Employee Full Name:
o Employee Gender:
o Employee Birth Date:
o Employee Citizenship:
o Social Security Number:
o Indication of whether any nominated employees have:
     • Previously received a TSA suitability determination;
     • Undergone a federal background investigation; or
     • Possess an individual security clearance

4. Provide a fully completed and witnessed non-disclosure agreement for all employees who need to view SSI. Use the attached form entitled "Non-Disclosure Agreement."

5. Contractors are limited to 35 individuals (inclusive of any subcontractors) who can have access to SSI.

6. Only one list of individuals may be submitted. No revisions will be permitted.

7. The attached document entitled "Further SSI Information" contains further information concerning SSI.

Added: Jul 26, 2013 11:01 am Synopsis:
 

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), intends to compete its requirement for Credential Authentication Technology (CAT). The CAT system will ensure that only legitimate passengers, airport personnel, affiliated airline crews, non-traveling passengers using a gate pass (Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs) and Federal Air Marshals (FAMs)) gain access to sterile airport areas. The CAT system must have the capability to assess a wide variety of credentials and display the authentication results to the TSO. The CAT system will:

(1) Be used by a TSO, or other qualified user, to verify the identity of individual passengers and ensure that passengers are authorized to enter the sterile area of the passenger checkpoint;

(2) Authenticate passenger ID documents and display authentication results to the operator, as well as obtain and display the passenger vetting status;

(3) Ensure that the passenger is ticketed appropriately to progress through security screening and enter the sterile area. In cases where passengers are not immediately cleared for access by the CAT system, the system will provide users with sufficient detail (alert descriptions, etc.) to enable effective resolution; and

(4) Include hardware that will integrate the credentials scanner, the IT solution to authenticate credentials, the graphic user interface (GUI), and the API.

CAT systems will be delivered to sites throughout the United States and its territories. TSA envisions the CAT system as a flexible system that can be deployed in different configurations depending on the needs and constraints of each checkpoint environment.

The estimated release date for the solicitation is Fall 2013. The Request for Proposal (RFP) will be issued on this same FedBizOpps webpage, with the exception of certain RFP attachments which are considered Sensitive Security Information (SSI). In order to be approved to view these attachments upon RFP release, a contractor must meet the requirements and complete the steps listed below. Contractors are ineligible to view said attachments until they comply with the SSI process.

SSI Vetting Requirements:

1. Provide the CAGE code of the Contractor's facility that will manage the proposal.

2. Designate a Senior Corporate Official, who is responsible for serving as the single point of contact for SSI and certifying to the Contracting Officer every 60 days that all appropriate protections have been followed, only authorized individuals have access to the sensitive information, and that those individuals with access adequately understand their responsibilities to protect the information. The designation must be stated in a letter format and signed by the Senior Corporate Official.

3. Provide the following information for all individuals who need to view SSI; provide this information via email in one password protected Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, and send the password in a separate email:

o Employee Full Name:
o Employee Gender:
o Employee Birth Date:
o Employee Citizenship:
o Social Security Number:
o Indication of whether any nominated employees have:
     • Previously received a TSA suitability determination;
     • Undergone a federal background investigation; or
     • Possess an individual security clearance

4. Provide a fully completed and witnessed non-disclosure agreement for all employees who need to view SSI. Use the attached form entitled "Non-Disclosure Agreement."

5. Contractors are limited to 35 individuals (inclusive of any subcontractors) who can have access to SSI.

6. Only one list of individuals may be submitted. No revisions will be permitted.

7. The attached document entitled "Further SSI Information" contains further information concerning SSI.