WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced the Hazmat Truck Security Pilot this week with the award of a contract to General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems of Buffalo, N.Y. for $3,157,744.

This is the second award related to the truck security pilot. In July 2005, TSA awarded a contract to SAIC of McLean, Va., for $1,434,588. SAIC will evaluate truck tracking solutions and monitor the development of a prototype truck tracking center designed to enhance security for the transportation of hazardous materials. Under the agreement, General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems will develop and demonstrate the prototype truck tracking center and the associated non-proprietary universal interface that will allow the collection of alert and tracking information from commercially available tracking systems.

In the first phase of the pilot, TSA will evaluate a minimum of three technically different, commercially available solutions against criteria related to tracking capability throughout the United States. Later phases of the pilot program will involve creating and demonstrating a prototype centralized truck tracking center to provide a single point of contact for analyzing alerts or incidents and coordinating responses to potential threats.

"We are eager to begin this important study to determine how to enhance security on our nation's roads," said Jim Blair, TSA's Acting Chief Operating Officer. "Evaluating available technologies will help us determine the best way to mitigate the threat of terrorists using Hazmat-carrying trucks, and then develop the capability to quickly coordinate the response to an incident or threat."

The Hazmat Truck Security Pilot Program will increase domain awareness related to the transportation of hazardous materials and provide a capability for coordinated, agile responses to terrorist threats.

For more information, please visit the TSA Web site at www.TSA.gov