Pre-Solicitation Notice: TSA Gold+ Draft PWS, Evaluation Factors, and Industry Day

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document consolidates questions and answers from the TSA Gold+ Industry Day, addressing operational and technical details relevant to the IDIQ level of the acquisition. It aims to provide clarity on various aspects of the program based on industry feedback.

• Cost Baseline & Funding: The Federal Cost Estimate (FCE) covers the full Gold+ scope, including technology, maintenance, and transition. The IDIQ ceiling is $12.9 billion over 10 years. Funding covers staffing, technology, and maintenance, with specific appropriations detailed at the task order level.
• Contract Structure: The contract will follow a base year plus nine option years structure. Financial security requirements can be met via escrow, letter of credit, performance bond, or corporate guarantee, with costs allowable within the task order price.
• Technology & Equipment: Gold+ covers checkpoint and checked baggage screening. TSA-owned equipment remains government property, while contractor-purchased technology is contractor property. Contractors will operate and maintain TSA-owned legacy equipment during modernization, with detailed risk-sharing and adjustment mechanisms defined at the task order level.
• Cybersecurity & ATO: Authorization boundaries will be determined per solution and task order. TSA will coordinate ATO timelines but will not commit to fixed dates. Solutions must align with TSA's architecture, cybersecurity standards, and Threat Recognition System (TRS).
• Performance Metrics: Metrics will be organized into families (security, wait times, customer experience, etc.) and detailed in the final RFP and task orders. Wait times and other metrics will be measured using standardized, auditable methods for monthly incentive/disincentive calculations.
• Staffing: Contractors are free to design staffing models; TSA will not set minimum levels or ratios. Staffing plans will be reviewed as part of task order evaluations. Incumbent TSOs are expected to transition to Gold+ contractors, with compliance to FAR Clause 52.207-3.
• Contract Structure & Governance: Task orders will be aligned by airport. Gold+ participation is voluntary for airports. A single prime contractor model will be used for each award, with teams and subcontractors permitted. Local governance and coordination will be managed by TSA leadership.

This Q&A document provides significant detail that will inform offerors preparing proposals for the upcoming solicitation. Key areas clarified include cost estimation, contract structure, technology responsibilities, cybersecurity requirements, performance measurement, and staffing expectations. Specific details on metrics, ATOs, and transition periods will be further defined in the RFP and task orders.

Other / Unclassified

This document is a slide deck from a TSA "Industry Day" event held on May 21, 2026, related to the "TSA gold+" initiative. It outlines the strategic vision for a "Golden Age of Travel," addressing current challenges faced by TSA such as capital constraints, evolving threats and technology, and increasing passenger volumes.

This presentation provides potential bidders with an overview of TSA's future direction and the "TSA gold+" program. Key areas discussed include:

• The Opportunity: Challenges TSA faces and its mission to secure transportation systems.
• The Vision: A "Golden Age of Travel" focused on being Secure, Seamless, and Service-Oriented, leveraging "Screening as a Service" through public-private partnerships.
• What TSA Gold+ Is Not: Clarifies that it is not a reduction in security, a mandatory process, an "all-or-nothing" approach, a return to pre-9/11 screening, or an added cost for airports.
• What TSA Gold+ Is: Highlights robust security oversight, personnel funding as a foundation, operational flexibilities through outcome-based metrics, improved contract certainty (5-10 years), and a public-private partnership to accelerate capital.
• Legislative Framework: References the Administrator's authority for screening (49 U.S.C. § 44901(a)) and the Screening Partnership Program (SPP) exception (49 U.S.C. §44920), including statutory requirements for SPP participation.
• Contract Scope, Timelines & Evaluation: Outlines a timeline with key milestones including Draft PWS, IDIQ Request for Proposal, TO Request for Proposal, and Award & Obligation in September 2026. It also details draft evaluation criteria for both the IDIQ and Airport-Specific Task Orders.
• Passenger Journey: Describes planned enhancements including Wait Time Tools, E-Gates, Computed Tomography, Screening at Speed, and Operations Management.
• Key Takeaways: Emphasizes creating new business opportunities, making security seamless and future-ready, and unlocking private investment.
• Breakout Sessions: Lists topics for breakout sessions, including Equipment/TSE & Maintenance, Technology Integration & Innovation, IT Solutions, Data & Cybersecurity, Security Operations, and Airport-Specific Expectations & Requirements.

Other / Unclassified

This document is an attendee list for the TSA Gold+ Industry Day held on May 21, 2026. It includes the names, job titles, work email addresses, work phone numbers, and legal company names of the attendees.

This list can help potential bidders identify key personnel and companies that attended the industry day, potentially indicating their interest or involvement in TSA opportunities. It may also provide contact information for follow-up or networking.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document outlines the evaluation factors and proposal requirements for the TSA Gold+ program at an IDIQ level, and also details evaluation factors for airport-specific task orders. The government will use a best-value tradeoff approach, considering technical merit and risk alongside price, ensuring total contract cost remains at or below the Federal cost baseline.

• Factor 1 – Technology Solution & Innovation: Requires description of proposed technologies (TSA-certified or certifiable), how they improve security and passenger experience, lifecycle/refresh strategy, innovation mechanisms, logistics/sustainment, connectivity, and open architecture support. Evaluation focuses on technical maturity, modernity, adaptability, and deployment credibility.

• Factor 2 – Staffing & Workforce Management: Requires details on proposed staffing levels, management of peak/off-peak periods, hiring/vetting/training processes, and performance/morale monitoring. Evaluation assesses realism, sufficiency, and the ability to maintain a qualified workforce.

• Factor 3 – Performance & Outcome Management: Requires approach to measuring and managing security effectiveness, screening efficiency, and customer experience. Evaluation focuses on alignment with outcome-based metrics and transparency of data reporting.

• Factor 4 – Management Approach & Transition Plan: Requires description of governance structure, experience, and a detailed transition plan (hiring, installation, coordination, risk mitigation, continuity, and return to government operations). Evaluation assesses realism, completeness, and risk management.

• Factor 5 – Financial Capability & Business Stability: Requires demonstration of financial stability, sufficient capitalization for a 10-year contract, and financial risk management practices. Evaluation focuses on financial strength and resilience.

• Factor 6 – Past Performance & Relevant Experience: Requires up to three examples of relevant contracts demonstrating experience in similar environments and quality of performance. Evaluation assesses relevance and quality.

• Factor A – Airport-Specific Solution & Tailoring: Detailed description of how the solution will execute screening at the specific airport, aligning with airport layout, traffic, and community role. Evaluation assesses clarity and credibility of the day-to-day operation plan.

• Factor B – Innovative Concepts: Description of proposed innovations for the airport and their impact on security, throughput, and passenger experience.

• Factor C – Stakeholder Engagement & Alignment: Plan for engaging with airport authorities, airlines, and local stakeholders.

• Factor D – Implementation Plan, Milestones, and Risk Management: High-level plan with milestones, success measures, and risk mitigation strategies.

• Factor E – Price / Cost for Airport-Specific Solution: Price proposal for the task order, demonstrating consistency with technical approach and remaining at or below the Government's cost baseline.

Proposals will be evaluated using a best-value tradeoff. Technical factors will receive a standard 1-5 adjectival rating. Price will be evaluated for reasonableness, realism, and consistency with the Federal cost baseline. Airport-specific task orders will be evaluated on how well the proposed capabilities are tailored to that specific airport.

Performance Work Statement (PWS)

This Performance Work Statement (PWS) outlines the requirements for the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Gold+ initiative, which seeks a comprehensive, turnkey solution for security screening technology and skilled personnel at participating airports. The initiative aims to modernize aviation security through public-private partnerships, enhancing security, efficiency, and passenger experience.

• TSA Gold+ Initiative: Implement a privatized screening ecosystem tailored to airport needs, transitioning TSA's role to primarily a security regulator.

• Services: Provide security screening for passengers and property, including explosives and weapons detection.

• Technology: Deliver, install, integrate, test, and maintain turnkey security screening technology solutions, adhering to TSA's architecture and technical standards.

• Personnel: Employ a skilled workforce for screening operations, including potential support for remote image review.

• Program Management: Oversee all aspects of Gold+ operations, including financial management, workforce management, technology maintenance, cybersecurity, and customer service.

• Operations Management: Develop and maintain an Operations Management Plan (OMP) covering staffing, training, equipment management, risk management, and quality control.

• Security & Threat Detection: Metrics include Threat Detection Rate, Selectee Find Rate, and Access Control rates.

• Screening Workforce Performance: Metrics cover overt/covert test pass rates, command presence, image interpretation accuracy, and incident report timeliness.

• Checkpoint Management: Includes wait times for standard and TSA PreCheck lanes, and operational availability (Ao).

• Customer Service: Metrics focus on Trust In TSA Score, complaint/compliment trends, and claims resolution rates.

• Innovation: Implementation of tech/process improvements and innovations.

• Incentives/Disincentives: Financial incentives for exceeding performance metrics and disincentives for failing to meet them.

• Not specified in this document, but applies to participating airports under the TSA Gold+ initiative.

• Security: Personnel require Security Threat Assessment (STA) and TSA suitability determination. Sensitive Security Information (SSI) handling is mandatory.

• Data Rights: Government requires broad licenses for software and data produced under the contract.

• Cybersecurity: All solutions must comply with TSA cybersecurity policies and obtain Authority to Operate (ATO) or Authority to Connect (ATC).

• Compliance: Adherence to all TSA Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), directives, and policies is required.

• Transition: Requirements for both transitioning into and out of the contract, including service migration and data transfer.

• Reporting: Timely and accurate status reporting is required, including operational summaries, performance reviews, and incident reports.

• Excluded Services: Offerors are not responsible for TSA Canine teams, Transportation Security Specialist-Explosives (TSSE), or TSA Inspectors.