SUBJECT: FAA GRANT APPLICATION FOR THE IN-LINE BAGGAGE SYSTEM
COUNCIL
DISTRICT: City-Wide
Adoption of a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to apply for, and execute upon receipt, a grant from the Federal Aviation Administration to be used to defray the cost of design, procurement and installation of the In-Line Baggage Screening System for the proposed North Concourse at the Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport, in an amount in excess of the City Manager’s contract authority of $100,000.
BACKGROUND
Since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have issued many security directives to ensure the safety and security of the traveling public. At the end of 2001, Congress passed the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA), which requires that airports implement various security measures. In addition to other requirements, ATSA mandated that all checked bags must be screened for explosives by December 31, 2002. In order to meet this deadline, the Airport worked with TSA staff to temporarily house the explosive detection system (EDS) machines required to screen the checked bags in various temporary structures outside the terminals. The existing system of checking bags for explosives is a manual system and is very costly to operate for both the TSA and the airlines. An automated, in-line baggage screening system will be included as a component to the new North Concourse facility to address the problems posed by the manual system.
Airport staff has learned recently that the FAA may have discretionary grant funds available for security projects at the Airport. The exact amount of the grant that may be available to the City is not known at this time, but it is expected to be about five million dollars ($5,000,000).
The $5,000,000 grant, if awarded, will be used for the design, procurement and installation of a fully automated in-line baggage screening system to support explosive detection on 100% of all checked bags in the proposed North Concourse facility. The in-line automated system meets the specific requirements set forth by Congress in terms of highly accurate explosive detection protocols. Automated in-line screening is more efficient in terms of detecting explosives when compared to the hybrid EDS/Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) protocol, as it utilizes the technology specifically created for that activity. The hybrid EDS/ETD protocol, utilized at the majority of airports today as an interim measure, must continually rely on less efficient ETD systems to clear bags that have alarmed in an EDS machine. ETD clearance relies on different technology that is proven to be much less accurate than the automated EDS protocols in detecting explosives.
Automated in-line bag screening also reduces TSA and airline manpower requirements in movement of bags from conveyor to machine and back again, as well as removes the requirement for localized TSA operation of the EDS/ETD. In some cases, TSA and airline manpower can be reduced by 80-90%. Automated in-line bag screening also reduces equipment requirements, as it utilizes machine redundancy in clearance of bags and provides for a higher capacity of screening bags per hour.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
Not applicable
The San José Municipal Code requires that capital projects at the Airport be consistent with the adopted Airport Master Plan. This project is a necessary component of the central terminal facility explicitly identified in the Airport Master Plan, as amended, and is therefore consistent with the Airport Master Plan pursuant to Municipal Code Section 25.04.210(B)(2).
This memo has been coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office.
BUDGET IMPLICATIONS
The grant fund, if awarded, will be used to offset the total costs of the baggage system, which is estimated to be over $18,000,000. Staff will propose that the balance of the project cost will be funded as part of a future debt financing.
BUDGET REFERENCE
A separate action to appropriate the grant fund will be made upon receipt of grant approval from the FAA.
CEQA:
Resolution No. 67380, PP 03-03-095
RALPH G. TONSETH
Director of Aviation
Airport Department