WASHINGTON, D.C. ? The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) today announced it has ordered 43 CTX 9000DSi Explosives Detection System (EDS) machines from General Electric (GE) InVision Inc. of Newark, Calif. Under the new delivery order, the 43 EDS machines, valued at $51.6 million, will be delivered by the end of the year.
?This explosives detection technology will be installed in airports currently constructing in-line permanent baggage screening systems with the assistance of funding from TSA,? said Rear Adm. David M. Stone, USN (Ret.), Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for TSA. ?The implementation of an in-line system will increase efficiencies and boost TSA?s ability to provide world-class customer service and world-class security.?
An in-line baggage screening system will allow TSA to remove large EDS machines from terminal lobbies and install them into the behind-the-scenes baggage handling conveyor system. This high-tech permanent solution will increase the efficiency of screening all checked baggage for explosives and add a customer service benefit by allowing passengers to drop off their checked baggage at the ticket counter instead of bringing their bags to a separate lobby area for screening.
The GE InVision Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract with TSA has a three-year ordering period for EDS machines, spare parts and related engineering services. This is the third delivery order under this contract. TSA has already deployed more than 800 of GE?s EDS machines to screen checked luggage for explosives at airports throughout the nation.
