Flyertalk member GUWonder points to a TSA procurement solicitation for new uniforms.
It’s a $2.6 million contract with options up to $98 million and estimated spending of $11 million to $13 million per year.
Superguy reads the document and shares these details:
Provide uniform items to approximately 12,000 new hire TSOs TSA revises the uniforms in some form at least every 2-3 years. Standard issue includes a team jacket (Go TSA!) Commando sweaters (whatever those are – might explain a lot), parkas, ball caps, and knit stocking caps are optional items Looking for designs for the following: Raincoats, gloves, multiple shoe/boot choices, cardigan sweater, Honor Guard items – headgear, white gloves, aiguillettes, ascots, corfam shoes, belts, and cargo pants
These uniforms will be at least as effective as, if not more effective than, Whole Body Imaging (aka nudo-o-scope) devices in providing security.
Unfortunately most TSA innovation is focused on trying to make themselves seem like a branch of the police or military service, or to justify additional hiring. Once they got created, it was all about empire building.
ascot! and why raincoat? In case the terminal gets flooded?
I was ok with it up to “Provide uniform items to approximately 12,000 new hire TSOs,” but beyond that, just seems superfluous…
Headgear?
http://www.kiferdentalspecialist.com/images/treatments/headgear.jpg