Homeland Security Department awards $70 million TWIC development contract to Lockheed Martin

Homeland Security Department awards $70 million TWIC development contract to Lockheed Martin

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Jan. 29 awarded an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract to Lockheed Martin Corporation Transportation and Security Solutions of Rockville, Md., worth $70 million for the initial deployment of the transportation worker identification credential (TWIC).

Under the terms of the contract, Lockheed Martin will establish enrollment centers within close proximity of port facilities, where applicants will provide biographic information and fingerprints to conduct a security threat assessment and produce the biometric credential. The threat assessment, conducted by the Transportation Security Administration, includes a check of criminal history, immigration and intelligence databases. Once the threat assessment process is completed, Lockheed Martin will issue the credential to the worker.

The fee for obtaining a TWIC will be $137.25 and the credential will be valid for five years. The fee includes the cost for the threat assessment, program management, card production and issuance. Individuals with current, comparable background checks including those for a merchant mariner document or Free and Secure Trade (FAST) credential, will pay a discounted fee of $105.25.

TWIC enrollment will begin March 26, 2007, at selected ports and will then proceed to ports throughout the nation over the next 15 months. Affected personnel will be notified of enrollment site locations prior to the start of the enrollment period in their area.

Once affected personnel have had ample opportunity to enroll and receive TWIC cards, DHS will establish a deadline for obtaining a TWIC. By Sept. 25, 2008, all mariners and workers requiring unescorted access to secure areas will be required to possess a TWIC.

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