Airports Under The Special Federal Aviation Regulation Spp

The Screening Partnership Program (SPP) is a program that allows commercial airports in the United States to use private security companies for passenger and baggage screening instead of TSA personnel. The SPP was established in 2004 following a pilot program mandated by Congress after the 9/11 attacks. Airports that are interested in participating in the SPP first need to present an application to their local federal security director. As of 2016, there are 23 airports that have participated in the SPP, including San Francisco International Airport.

The Screening Partnership Program (SPP) is administered by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

Airports that wish to participate in the SPP must first present an application to their local federal security director. The application must meet the qualification criteria identified by 49 U.S.C. § 44920, as amended. The TSA administrator must approve the application if it is determined that “the approval would not compromise security or detrimentally affect the cost-efficiency or the effectiveness of the screening of passengers or property at the airport”. If an application is denied, the TSA must inform the airport operator in writing within 60 days and explain the reasons for the denial. The airport can reapply to participate in the SPP at any time.

As of 2024, there are 22 airports participating in the SPP, including San Francisco International Airport and other smaller, regional airports. The private companies providing security screening services determine the number of contract screeners hired, but they must attend all TSA-provided training, including at the TSA Academy. The private screening companies are required to follow all TSA security procedures and use TSA-approved equipment, while the TSA maintains overall responsibility for transportation security at participating airports.

The SPP has been the subject of several congressional hearings over the years, with lawmakers and stakeholders expressing both support and criticism of the program. Some argue that the private sector is highly capable of providing efficient and effective screening services, while others contend that the TSA has not made it easy for airports to make the switch to private screeners. The TSA has also faced resistance to the SPP from within the agency, with some expressing concerns about the cost-efficiency and effectiveness of the program. Despite these debates, the SPP continues to operate and expand, with the TSA preparing to launch the next major contracting action supporting the program.

SPP contracts private firms to screen passengers and baggage

The Screening Partnership Program (SPP) is administered by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and allows commercial airports in the United States to use private security companies for passenger and baggage screening instead of TSA personnel. The SPP was created in 2004 and since then, at least 32 airports have applied to participate.

The SPP contracts security screening services at commercial airports to qualified private companies. These companies run screening operations under federal oversight and must comply with all TSA security screening procedures. The private companies providing security screening services determine the number of contract screeners hired. The TSA seeks to provide flexibility to the contractor to manage the operations efficiently while meeting security and customer service standards.

The SPP currently fulfills all of its screening requirements via task orders from an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) multiple-award contract vehicle. Only companies that have an SPP IDIQ contract may submit a proposal for task order requirements. The TSA advertised for companies to be a part of the IDIQ contract vehicle in 2015 and 2020 and while it reserves the right to add more vendors to the SPP IDIQ contract, no further vendor additions are anticipated at this time.

The current SPP contracts are set to expire at the end of May 2026. The total contract spend under the current contract has been $1.5 billion, and the anticipated new ceiling represents a 3x plus increase in the amount expected to be spent under the new contracts.

Airports must apply to their local federal security director

The Screening Partnership Program (SPP) is a program that contracts security screening services at commercial airports to qualified private companies. Airports that are interested in participating in the SPP must first present an application to their local federal security director. The application process for airport operators is outlined in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2018.

The TSA administrator must approve SPP applications if the administrator determines that the approval will not compromise security or negatively affect the cost-efficiency or effectiveness of screening passengers or property at the airport. The TSA must inform the airport operator in writing within 60 days if their application is denied and explain the findings that led to the denial. The TSA must also provide the results of any cost or security analysis conducted and give recommendations on how the airport operator can address the reasons for the denial.

The private company providing security screening services determines the number of contract screeners hired. The TSA seeks to provide flexibility to the contractor to manage operations as efficiently as possible while meeting security and customer service standards. Private security screening companies are subject to the same security screener hiring restrictions and challenges as the federal government. All contract screeners must attend all TSA-provided training, including training at the TSA Academy.

The SPP was created in 2004, and since then, at least 32 airports have applied for the program. As of 2016, 23 airports have participated in the SPP.

Hired private agencies are required to follow TSA policies

The TSA, or Transportation Security Administration, is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It was created in response to the September 11 attacks to improve airport security procedures and consolidate air travel security under a federal law enforcement agency. The TSA develops policies to protect the U.S. transportation system, including highways, railroads, bus networks, mass transit systems, ports, pipelines, and intermodal freight facilities. However, its primary mission is airport security and the prevention of aircraft hijacking.

The TSA has laid out the policies for how airport security in the United States should work, and any hired private agencies are required to follow these policies. This narrows the debate down to the quality and efficiency of customer service, rather than matters of security. The TSA seeks to provide flexibility to contractors to manage operations efficiently while meeting security and customer service standards.

The Screening Partnership Program (SPP) contracts security screening services at commercial airports to qualified private companies. These companies run screening operations under federal oversight and must comply with all TSA security screening procedures. The private company providing security screening services determines the number of contract screeners hired. Private security screening companies are subject to the same security screener 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 federal security screeners. Additionally, all contract screeners must attend all TSA-provided training, including training at the TSA Academy.

As of 2016, 23 airports have participated in the SPP, with qualified private agencies that are TSA-approved. Airports interested in participating in the SPP must first present an application to their local federal security director. If approved, issuing the contract may take up to 12 months, and the transition into the program may take four to six months.

SPP was created in 2004 following a pilot program mandated by Congress after 9/11

The Screening Partnership Program (SPP) was established in 2004 following a pilot program mandated by Congress after 9/11. The program allows commercial airports in the United States to use private security companies for passenger and baggage screening instead of TSA personnel. The TSA maintains overall responsibility for transportation security at SPP airports, and private screening companies are required to follow all TSA security procedures and use TSA-approved equipment.

The creation of the SPP was motivated by the desire to make the screening process more efficient and to address the challenges faced by the TSA, such as understaffing and long wait times. Airports that participate in the SPP contract with private security companies that are approved by the TSA and undergo federal oversight. The private companies determine the number of contract screeners hired, while the TSA provides flexibility to the contractors to manage operations efficiently while meeting security and customer service standards.

As of 2016, 23 airports have participated in the SPP, including San Francisco International Airport and other smaller, regional airports. Airports interested in joining the SPP must first submit an application to their local federal security director and can expect a response within 120 days. If approved, the process of issuing the contract and transitioning into the program can take up to 12 months.

The SPP has undergone several congressional hearings over the years, with lawmakers and stakeholders expressing their support for the program and the involvement of the private sector in providing efficient and effective screening services. The TSA has also advertised for companies to be a part of the SPP contract vehicle multiple times, indicating an anticipated expansion of the program and an increase in the number of airports applying.

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