TSA awards Airport Access Control Pilot Program (AACPP) to Unisys.

Unisys Corporation (NYSE: UIS) announced that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) awarded the company a 20-month, cost-plus, fixed-fee contract with a ceiling of approximately $17 million. The initial task order placed under the contract has an estimated value of $8 million. The contract is for the evaluation of technologies that could mitigate security vulnerabilities at airports. The Airport Access Control Pilot Program (AACPP) will allow Unisys to identify the operational benefits achievable through increased use of biometric, surveillance and other security measures.

As the systems integrator for this pilot program, Unisys will coordinate the testing of biometric technologies that likely will include fingerprinting, facial recognition and iris scanning. Also included in the program are surveillance cameras at entry points to secure areas, which could prevent people without credentials from entering a secure area on the heels of someone with credentials, according to TSA.

"We're looking forward to working on this initiative to help strengthen security at United States airports," said Tom Conaway, Unisys managing partner for homeland security. "As a long-time integrator and early entrant into the biometrics market, we're ready to meet this security challenge with our partners and help TSA continue to employ leading technologies to protect the traveling public."

The AACPP task order was awarded by TSA's Office of the Chief Technology Officer. Unisys has worked with TSA for more than a year on the performance-based, information technology managed services (ITMS) contract to provide technology infrastructure for the nation's 429 commercial airports. ITMS is overseen by TSA's Office of the Chief Information Officer.