Roberta Aguirre
The Screening Partnership Program (SPP), established in 2004, allows airports to employ private security agencies to conduct screenings instead of the TSA. Private screeners are subject to the same security standards and procedures as federal employees, and they must use TSA-approved equipment. Private screeners can improve efficiency, accountability, and quality of service, and they are not affected by government shutdowns. However, there are concerns about cost and liability protection for private screening contractors and airports. As of 2016, 23 airports participated in the SPP, and this number is expected to grow.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Advantages of private screeners | Private companies can set their own staffing targets and hire as many screeners as needed. |
| Private screeners can hire contractors for non-essential jobs. | |
| Private screeners are not subject to government shutdowns. | |
| Private screeners are held to the same standards as federal employees. | |
| Private screeners are desirable because they can respond to issues faster. | |
| Private screeners are preferred by some aviation-security-affiliated individuals, who want to be in charge of security at their airports. | |
| Private screeners create jobs. | |
| Application process for airports | Airports must complete applications and, if approved, it may take up to 12 months to issue a contract. |
| Transition into the program may take 4-6 months. | |
| Application process for private screening agencies | Agencies must first check for available opportunities on the Federal Business Opportunities website. |
| Agencies must then apply to the local Federal Security Director. | |
| The TSA must make a determination on an application within 60 days of receipt. | |
| The TSA must enter into a contract with a private screening company within 120 days of approval. |
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What You'll Learn
- Private screeners are not subject to government shutdowns
- Private screeners are more efficient and desirable
- Private screeners can set their own staffing targets
- Private screeners are held to the same standards as federal employees
- Private screeners are subject to the same hiring restrictions as the federal government
Private screeners are not subject to government shutdowns
The Screening Partnership Program (SPP) allows airports to employ private security agencies to conduct screening instead of the TSA. Private screeners are not subject to government shutdowns because they are not federal employees. They are private employees hired by contractors and continue to work based on their agreements with the screening companies. For example, during the government shutdown in 2019, the San Francisco International Airport did not experience any terminal checkpoint closures due to adequate staffing, unlike other airports.
Private screeners are hired and managed by private security companies, and they work for the TSA rather than the airport authority. They must adhere to the same security screener hiring restrictions, background checks, and medical requirements as federal security screeners. Private companies providing security screening services determine the number of contract screeners hired, allowing them to set their own staffing targets and hire as many screeners as needed.
Airports opting for private screeners can improve the quality of service and make the screening process more efficient. Private agencies can often respond to issues faster than the TSA, and they are held accountable by the TSA, which can replace them with another contractor if necessary. Additionally, private screeners can hire contractors for non-essential jobs, such as moving bins or reminding passengers of checkpoint requirements.
While private screeners offer certain advantages, it is essential to note that they must follow all TSA screening policies and procedures and use TSA-approved equipment. The TSA sets the security screening rules and regulations, and private agencies are required to comply with them, ensuring that security standards are maintained.
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Private screeners are more efficient and desirable
Secondly, private screeners are not federal employees, so they are not affected by government shutdowns. For example, during the 2019 government shutdown, San Francisco International Airport avoided terminal checkpoint closures due to adequate staffing by private screeners. Private screeners continue to work based on their agreements with screening companies and are not subject to the same disruptions as federal employees.
Thirdly, private screeners can improve the quality of service and make the screening process more efficient. Airport executives and lawmakers argue that private agencies can address issues faster and provide quicker resolutions, making them more desirable. High-ranking aviation-security individuals also believe that moving towards a private screening force ensures accountability and constant quality of service, with the ability to address issues promptly.
Additionally, private screening agencies must follow TSA screening policies and procedures and use TSA-approved equipment. This means that the debate shifts from security to the efficiency and quality of customer service. Private screeners undergo the same background checks, medical examinations, and training as their federally employed counterparts, ensuring a consistent level of professionalism across the industry.
Overall, private screeners offer benefits such as increased staffing flexibility, immunity to government shutdowns, improved quality of service, and enhanced efficiency. These advantages contribute to their desirability for airports aiming to streamline their operations and enhance the experience for travellers.
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Private screeners can set their own staffing targets
Private screening companies can set their own staffing targets, allowing airports to hire as many screeners as needed. This flexibility enables them to manage operations efficiently while maintaining security and customer service standards. Private screeners are not federal employees, so they continue to work and get paid even during a government shutdown. For example, during the 2019 government shutdown, San Francisco International Airport avoided terminal checkpoint closures due to adequate staffing by private screeners.
Private screeners must adhere to the same security procedures and background checks as federal screeners. They must also use TSA-approved equipment and comply with all TSA screening policies. Despite this, private screeners can offer faster responses to issues and a more efficient screening process, which are desirable to airport executives and lawmakers.
The Screening Partnership Program (SPP) allows airports to employ private security agencies for screening instead of the TSA. Airports and security agencies must apply and be approved to participate in the SPP. Once approved, the TSA must enter into a contract with the private screening company within 120 days.
Private screeners are subject to the same hiring restrictions as federal screeners, including background checks and medical requirements. Additionally, all contract screeners must attend TSA-provided training at the TSA Academy. The number of contract screeners hired is ultimately determined by the private company providing security screening services.
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Private screeners are held to the same standards as federal employees
The Screening Partnership Program (SPP) allows airports to employ private security agencies to conduct screening instead of the TSA. Private security screeners are held to the same standards as federal employees. All private security agencies must follow TSA screening policies and procedures and use TSA-approved equipment.
Private screeners are subject to the same security screener hiring restrictions and challenges as federal employees. They must receive the same security background checks and meet the same medical requirements as federal security screeners. All contract screeners must also attend all TSA-provided training, including training at the TSA Academy, located at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia.
Private screening agencies work for the TSA rather than the airport authority. They are required to follow the policies laid out by the TSA for how airport security in the United States should work. This includes following standard operating procedures and other pertinent regulations, with supervision from the Federal Security Director.
Private screeners must adhere to the same procedures as federal employees when screening passengers and conducting machine-assisted and manual pat-down-style security checks. If a problem occurs with a screening contractor, a complaint can be filed through the TSA website, and it may be investigated by both the TSA and the private security contractor.
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Private screeners are subject to the same hiring restrictions as the federal government
The Screening Partnership Program (SPP) allows airports to employ private security agencies to conduct screening instead of the TSA. Private security screeners are subject to the same hiring restrictions and challenges as the federal government. Contract screener candidates receive the same security background checks and must meet the same medical requirements as prospective federal security screeners.
Private screeners are not federal employees, so they continue to be paid by their employers and continue working based on their agreements with the screening companies during a government shutdown. For example, during the government shutdown in 2019, San Francisco International Airport didn't experience any terminal checkpoint closures due to a lack of staffing, unlike other airports.
Private security screening companies run screening operations under federal oversight and must comply with all TSA security screening procedures. They must also use TSA-approved equipment. Private companies providing security screening services determine the number of contract screeners hired. The TSA provides flexibility to the contractor to manage the operations as efficiently as possible while meeting security and customer service standards.
Interested airport authorities can submit an application to their local Federal Security Director. The TSA is required to make a determination on an application within 60 days of application receipt. The TSA is also required to enter into a contract with a private screening company for the provision of screening at the airport no later than 120 days after the date of application approval.
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Frequently asked questions
The Screening Partnership Program (SPP) is a program instituted in 2004 by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the United States. It allows airports to employ private security agencies to conduct screening instead of the TSA.
Airports that opt for the SPP can set their own staffing targets and hire as many screeners as needed. Private screeners are also not affected by government shutdowns. The program is also said to improve the quality of service and make the screening process more efficient.
Airports interested in the SPP must submit an application to their local Federal Security Director. The TSA is required to make a determination on the application within 60 days of receiving the application.
Private security agencies must follow all TSA screening policies and procedures and use TSA-approved equipment. They are also subject to the same security screener hiring restrictions and challenges as the federal government.
The TSA has stated that the SPP will operate at a cost that is competitive with equivalent federal operations. The award fee for private screeners is based, in part, on contractor cost savings. However, opportunities for TSA cost savings may be limited as they bear most of the cost risk.
