TSA Announces Industry Partners and Program Contractors for Registered Traveler Pilot Project

Release Date: 06/16/04 00:00:00

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: TSA Public Affairs, 571-227-2829
June 16, 2004

Rear Adm. David M. Stone, USN (Ret.), Acting Administrator for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), today announced that TSA has reached agreements with its partners for the Registered Traveler program.  TSA will be launching the experiment in Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport with Northwest Airlines later this month.  Checkpoint operations are scheduled to begin in early July.

In late July, TSA will implement the program in Los Angeles International Airport in coordination with United Airlines.  In early August, TSA will begin operating in George Bush Intercontinental Airport/Houston in coordination with Continental Airlines.  By the end of August, TSA intends to have the program also active in both Boston Logan International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport both in coordination with American Airlines.

Following full and open competition, TSA today signed contracts for program management, biometrics, tactical operations, and systems integration.  Unisys Corporation of Reston, VA was selected for Minneapolis, Los Angeles, and Houston and EDS of Herndon, VA for Boston and Washington.  The Unisys contract was awarded at an initial value of $2.47 million and the EDS contract at an initial value of $1.31 million -- both are written for a term of 180 days.

"TSA is very pleased to announce the launch of the Registered Traveler Pilot Program in conjunction with our partners," said Admiral Stone.  “TSA approached this pilot with the firm idea that security could not and would not be compromised and we believe that this pilot program will provide frequent travelers with the means to expedite the screening experience without compromising on security.”

Participating air carriers will solicit participation in the program from frequent flyers who travel at least once a week in selected markets.  Each volunteer will provide to TSA information including his or her name, address, phone number and date of birth along with a biometric imprint including finger and iris.  TSA will then perform a security assessment of each volunteer that will include analysis of law enforcement and intelligence data sources and a check of outstanding criminal warrants.  Once approved, the volunteer will be considered enrolled in the pilot program.  Passengers will not be charged an enrollment fee during the pilot phase.

Once the program is operational at their home airports, volunteers will proceed to a Registered Traveler lane to provide their biometrics (either a finger or iris scan) at the checkpoint.  This will confirm their valid registrations and allow them to proceed to primary screening while secondary screening will be largely eliminated.

For more information regarding TSA, please visit our website at www.tsa.gov.

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