ASSIST Program Aviation Security System Integrated Support Testing Program Charter Safe Skies Contact: ACI-NA Contact: Scott Broyles, President & COO Lydia Kellogg, Director Public 110 McGhee Tyson Blvd, Suite 201 Safety & Security Alcoa, TN 37701 1775 K Street, NW 865-970-0515 Washington, DC 20006 202-293-8500
TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents INTRODUCTION... 3 Chapter I: ASSIST Program Overview... 4 1. Criteria... 4 2. Project Definition... 4 3. Advisory Committee... 4 Chapter II: ASSIST Project Proposal, Selection, Implementation and Reporting... 5 1. Submitting Project Proposals... 5 2. Evaluation and Selection... 6 3. Implementation... 6 4. Preparing Reports... 7 5. Distributing Reports... 7 Chapter III: Status of ASSIST Projects... 7 1. Status of Ongoing Projects... 7 2. Annual Report... 7 Appendix ASSIST Program Project Proposal Form... 8 Page 2 of 9
INTRODUCTION The Aviation Security System Integrated Support Testing (ASSIST) Program is a collaborative effort between all commercial service airports in the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA), a nonprofit consortium dedicated to advocating policies and services that strengthen airports in serving their passengers, customers, and communities, and the National Safe Skies Alliance (Safe Skies), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization committed to helping create and maintain a safe and efficient aviation system. The ASSIST Program provides resources to test and evaluate aviation security solutions that protect our nation s airports. Funding for this program is provided by Safe Skies through Cooperative Agreement 09-G-011 with the FAA. The ASSIST Program provides the opportunity for airports to identify and resolve specific security system needs using solutions that are eligible to receive FAA Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds. The FAA AIP Handbook (Order 5100.38C) establishes a National Priority System for distributing these funds in accordance with Congressional direction, with security projects among the highest priorities. The ASSIST Program is unique in that the airports themselves propose the ideas, which are then reviewed and, if selected, overseen by a committee of their peers airport security professionals. The goal of the ASSIST Program is to strengthen the nation s aviation system by establishing the best possible security solution in the unique context of that airport s location. Page 3 of 9
Chapter I: ASSIST Program Overview 1. Criteria a. Regulatory To participate in the ASSIST Program, airports must (1) possess a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) approved Airport Security Program, (2) be included in the FAA National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems, and (3) be eligible to receive FAA AIP funding. b. Project Focus Areas ASSIST Program projects are intended to test security technologies, systems, devices, and processes at airports that address 49 CFR Part 1542 requirements. 2. Project Definition There are two types of projects: Standard and Special. a. Standard Projects Standard Projects provide the opportunity to enhance security or find more efficient ways to meet security requirements. b. Special Projects Special Projects provide the opportunity to address security issues that unexpectedly arise and for which an immediate project test would be helpful to enhance security. 3. Advisory Committee a. Membership The ASSIST Advisory Committee comprises 17 members, including eight (8) members representing airports, four (4) members representing security consultancies and vendors, two (2) members representing Safe Skies, two (2) ex officio members representing ACI-NA, and one (1) ex officio member representing the FAA. The eight (8) airport members include representatives from various sizes and security categories of airports as defined by the TSA. b. Terms i. Advisory Committee members may serve one (1) four (4)-year term, after which the member cannot serve on the Advisory Committee for at least a one (1)-year period. ii. If an Advisory Committee vacancy arises during the year, the position shall be filled in accordance with the nominating process as soon as possible. Advisory Committee members serving the fourth year of their term have the option to fill any vacancies. iii. At least 25% of the Advisory Committee shall be rotated each year. Page 4 of 9
c. Eligibility The following individuals shall be eligible to serve on the Advisory Committee: persons with security-related responsibilities at commercial service airports, security consultants, and security vendors. d. Nomination and Election Process When a vacancy on the Advisory Committee arises, anyone meeting the eligibility criteria can self-nominate or nominate another eligible person for any open position. The Advisory Committee shall review candidates and vote via email as soon as expeditiously possible. The selected candidate shall be immediately added to the Advisory Committee. e. Responsibilities The Advisory Committee, in accordance with ASSIST Program criteria, is responsible for reviewing and selecting Standard Projects. Voting members shall recuse themselves from decisions that involve their organization or their technology, system, device, or process. f. Meeting Schedule The Advisory Committee meets twice per year at meetings scheduled to coincide with the semi-annual ACI-NA Public Safety and Security Conferences. The Advisory Committee may also, from time-to-time, meet by conference call to discuss issues of importance. g. Quorum A quorum at all meetings shall consist of a majority of the members eligible to vote at such meeting, either in person or by proxy. If any vacancies exist on the Advisory Committee, the number of required votes will be reduced by one (1) for each such vacancy. Chapter II: ASSIST Project Proposal, Selection, Implementation and Reporting 1. Submitting Project Proposals There is no limit on the number of Standard or Special Project proposals that an airport may submit. The ASSIST Project Proposal form is located on the ACI-NA website at www.aci-na.org and on the Safe Skies website at www.sskies.org. a. Standard Projects Airports complete and submit a Project Proposal Form to the ACI-NA Office of Public Safety & Security. Proposals for Standard Projects may be submitted on an ongoing basis. b. Special Projects Airports contact Safe Skies or ACI-NA directly and also complete and submit a Project Proposal Form to Safe Skies or the ACI-NA Office of Public Safety & Security. Proposals for Special Projects may be submitted on an ongoing basis. Page 5 of 9
2. Evaluation and Selection a. Standard Projects Standard Project proposals are evaluated on a semi-annual basis by the ASSIST Advisory Committee at meetings scheduled to coincide with semi-annual ACI-NA Public Safety and Security Conferences. Proposals received in the 30 working days prior to a scheduled Advisory Committee meeting will be considered at the next subsequent Advisory Committee meeting. Project selections are made within seven (7) working days after each meeting. b. Special Projects Safe Skies will immediately consider and respond to Special Project proposals provided by airports. Safe Skies will notify the Advisory Committee of its decisions regarding any Special Project request. c. Selection Notification Airports that have been selected for participation are notified within seven (7) working days following project selection. 3. Implementation a. Standard Projects Upon being selected for participation in a Standard Project, Safe Skies personnel will meet with airport staff to discuss project details and complete additional documentation as required. Subsequently, Safe Skies personnel will conduct a baseline survey of the area to be addressed and then research and identify technologies, systems, devices, or processes capable of meeting the airport s specific need. After the research is completed, the available technology, system, device, or process will be installed at the airport and evaluated by Safe Skies personnel. If possible, and if funding allows, multiple technologies, systems, devices, or processes will be evaluated in sequence against the same criteria to assess the usefulness of each, given the identified need. At the completion of the test, the technology, system, device, or process utilized will be removed and returned to the manufacturer or vendor. b. Special Projects Safe Skies expeditiously will respond to and meet with airports requesting a Special Project. During the meeting, Safe Skies personnel will work with airport representatives to understand the specific need identified. Subsequently, Safe Skies will research and share all pertinent information on available immediate options followed by longer term alternatives. c. Implementation Notification For Standard Projects, Safe Skies will contact the airport within 14 working days following selection to initiate detailed project discussions. For Special Projects, Safe Skies will contact the airport to initiate detailed project discussions as soon as practical. Page 6 of 9
4. Preparing Reports Upon completing project testing, Safe Skies personnel will produce a Final Report that summarizes all test results and shows how the tested security technologies, systems, devices, or processes performed against specific criteria identified during the baseline survey. 5. Distributing Reports A copy of the Final Report will be provided to the Airport Security Coordinator at the participating airport. Chapter III: Status of ASSIST Projects 1. Status of Ongoing Projects ASSIST Advisory Committee members will receive monthly status updates via e-mail on all ongoing projects. Such updates will include a description of work completed to date and funds expended. 2. Annual Report Safe Skies will create an Annual Report to be distributed to interested parties. The Annual Report will identify information such as the number of both Standard and Special Project proposals submitted, the number of both Standard and Special Projects initiated, and the amount of funds expended for each. The Annual Report will also include project performance surveys received from airports and ASSIST Advisory Committee members. Page 7 of 9
Appendix ASSIST Program Project Proposal Form ASSIST Program Project Proposal Form The Aviation Security System Integrated Support Testing (ASSIST) Program is a partnership between commercial service airports in the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Airports Council International- North America (ACI-NA), and National Safe Skies Alliance (Safe Skies). ASSIST Program projects are intended to test security technologies, systems, devices, and processes at airports that address 49 CFR Part 1542 requirements. To participate in the ASSIST Program, airports must (1) possess a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) approved Airport Security Program, (2) be included in the FAA National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS), and (3) be eligible to receive FAA Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funding. There are two types of ASSIST Program projects: Standard and Special. Standard Projects provide the opportunity to enhance security or find more efficient ways to meet security requirements. Special Projects provide the opportunity to address security issues that unexpectedly arise and for which an immediate project test would be helpful to enhance security. Please check if this is a Standard Project Proposal or a Special Project Proposal o Standard o Special If this is a Standard Project Proposal, submit this form to Lydia Kellogg (ACI-NA) by e-mail at lkellogg@aci-na.org or facsimile at 202-331-1362. If this is a Special Project Proposal, submit this form to Scott Broyles (Safe Skies) by e-mail at scott.broyles@sskies.org or facsimile at 865-970-0506 or to Lydia Kellogg (ACI-NA) by e-mail at lkellogg@aci-na.org or facsimile at 202-331-1362. The response for each section below should be no more than 3,000 characters. 1. PROJECT DESCRIPTION Provide a general description of the proposed project and the 49 CFR Part 1542 requirements that the project would address: 2. PROJECT OBJECTIVE(S) Provide a concise statement of the project objective(s): 3. PROPOSED TEST Describe the specific testing proposed and how it relates to the project description: 4. POTENTIAL BENEFIT Describe the potential benefit of this project: Page 8 of 9
5. PRIMARY CONTACT FOR THIS PROJECT PROPOSAL Provide the following information for the person who is the primary contact for this project proposal: Three Digit Airport Code: Full Name: Title: Telephone: Fax: Address Street 1: Address Street 2: City: State: Zip: 6. AUTHORIZATION OF AIRPORT DIRECTOR OR AIRPORT CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER TO SUBMIT THIS PROJECT PROPOSAL I authorize the submission of this ASSIST Program Project Proposal: Signature: Date: Print Title: Print Name: Page 9 of 9