The TSA’s Wise Use of Resources, or How They’re Spending Your Money to Protect You

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.

    About Gary Leff

    Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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    Comments

    1. 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.

    2. I was ok with it up to “Provide uniform items to approximately 12,000 new hire TSOs,” but beyond that, just seems superfluous…

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