[FedCom] TSA to buy 20, 000 HT's for agents to "whisper" at each other

[ed]

Well, one of us can easily get to the bottom of this by calling James Loba, TSA
contract specialist, at (571)227-1032.

Any volunteers?

-ed


> On 2/14/09, Chris Parris <chrisparris at monitoringtimes.com> wrote:
> > Hmmm - the TSA already has encryption capabilities on their current
> > XTS P-25 radios, so this would be nothing new for them.
> >
> > The original version of this story appeared a few months ago and
> > stated that they were purchasing earpieces and mics so the radio
> > traffic wasn't upsetting everyone waiting in the security lines. Now
> > this story seems to say they want new radios. I'm not sure what the
> > new radios would do for them that they can't do now.
> >
> > - Chris
> >  --
> > Chris Parris
> > Fed Files Columnist
> > Monitoring Times Magazine
> > chrisparris at monitoringtimes.com
> > http://www.monitoringtimes.com <http://www.monitoringtimes.com/> 
> > http://mt-fedfiles.blogspot.com/
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Feb 14, 2009, at 12:09 AM, ed wrote:
> >
> > > Note that these are to be scrambled or encrypted radios, which can
> > > cost
> > > thousands of dollars apiece.  This could cost as much as much as
> > > $100 Million.
> > > Note radio specs below.
> > >
> > > -bernieS
> > >
> > >
> > > http://www.gsnmagazine.com/cms/features/news-analysis/1515.html
> > >
> > > TSA wants its personnel to 'whisper' at airport checkpoints to
> > > reduce stress
> > >
> > > By Jacob Goodwin, Editor-in-Chief
> > >
> > > Published February 11th, 2009
> > >
> > > In an effort to reduce shouting between its security officers at
> > > airport
> > > security checkpoints, and reduce overall stress levels for
> > > passengers, TSA is
> > > planning to purchase as many as 20,000 land mobile radios that would
> > > enable its
> > > personnel to whisper to each other.
> > >
> > > "Wireless whisper will reduce noise levels that contribute to the
> > > current sense
> > > of stress at checkpoints," explained TSA in a solicitation for
> > > mobile radios
> > > published Feb. 6. "These noise levels are elevated by the current
> > > mode of
> > > communication which often consists of [Transportation Security
> > > Officers]
> > > speaking or shouting to one another in the open, over other
> > > checkpoint noise."
> > >
> > > TSA's Office of Operational Information Technology intends to
> > > procure at least
> > > 9,260 Very High Frequency land mobile radios, and, perhaps, as many
> > > as 20,000 of
> > > the units, to enable officers to speak more quietly.
> > >
> > > "A speaker microphone is intended to be worn on the uniform of the
> > > TSA employee
> > > around the shoulder area while the radio is attached at the belt
> > > level," says
> > > the statement of work for the proposed three-year, fixed-price,
> > > indefinite
> > > delivery / indefinite quantity contract. "The device shall allow for
> > > the
> > > attachment of a receive-only earpiece that allows for discrete
> > > monitoring of audio."
> > >
> > > According to the statement of work, the radios will possess the
> > > following
> > > capabilities:
> > >
> > > * Weigh no more than 12 ounces, including the battery;
> > >
> > > * Operate in the 162MHz through 174MHz VHF spectrum;
> > >
> > > * Provide a vibrating alert on message reception;
> > >
> > > * Prevent unauthorized eavesdropping on voice transmissions through
> > > voice
> > > scrambling, encryption or other technologies.
> > >
> > > The radios will be distributed to more than 160 TSA locations at
> > > airports and
> > > other sites, over a four-month period.
> > >
> > > The effort to "reduce ambient noise and facilitate more discrete
> > > communications
> > > between TSOs" is one element of the Checkpoint Evolution Program
> > > initiated by
> > > TSA in 2007.
> > >
> > > Prospective radio vendors are expected to respond by Feb. 27. More
> > > information
> > > is available from James Loba, a TSA contract specialist, at
> > > 571-227-1032.
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