L-3 wins $165M security award from TSA

L-3 Communications will supply the Transportation Security Administration with advanced screening technology under an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract worth $164.7 million.

The award calls for L-3 to supply the agency with millimeter wave (MMW) advanced imaging technology systems to screen for explosives and other threats at security checkpoints.

This contract makes L-3 eligible for future delivery orders for its ProVision MMW system, L-3 said in a statement today.

The technology used in the ProVision system utilizes safe, harmless radio waves to detect threats that might be hidden under a passenger’s clothing. Threat substances made from a wide variety of materials can be found using ProVision, including both metallic and non-metallic threat items, according to the statement.

L-3’s ProVision offers multiple levels of privacy protection that can be customized to support customer-specific operational procedures.

Security officials see a 3-D black and white silhouette that makes it virtually impossible to determine the identity of the scanned individual. Also, images are viewed in remote locations separate from the checkpoint, so that analysts cannot see the passenger being scanned. Privacy is further ensured with options that allow for blurring of facial features, the statement said.

More than 200 ProVision systems are deployed worldwide to protect critical airports and other facilities, including federal and state courthouses, correctional institutions, embassies and border crossings.

L-3 Communications, of New York City, ranks No. 8 on Washington Technology’s 2009 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors.