Los Angeles port signs TWIC contract with Unisys

Los Angeles port signs TWIC contract with Unisys The Port of Los Angeles has signed a three-year contract with Blue Bell, Penn.-based Unisys to provide a port-wide access control system to identify and allow access to federally credentialed workers.
   The contract is part of the federal government's Transportation Worker Identification Credential program, established by Congress in 2002 through the Maritime Transportation Security Act. The program requires workers seeking unescorted entry into the nation's ports to apply for the TWIC credential, receive a thorough federal background check, be cleared by Department of Homeland Security and display the TWIC card when entering port facilities.
   The DHS, through the Transportation Security Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard, announced the implementation of the TWIC program in January 2007, and in mid-October 2007 began a phased enrollment at locations throughout the nation. To date more than 85 ports have begun enrollment of workers in the plan and the TSA expects to have all 147 ports included in the program begin enrollment by the end of September.
   The DHS originally estimated that more than 1 million workers were expected to apply for TWIC by the end of 2008. However, USCG estimates suggest that the actual number of workers who will need to have a TWIC card could be as high as 1.5 million.
   Once enrollment is complete, the port authorities will have one year to integrate the TWIC into an access system of readers and other equipment to prevent entry to port facilities by non-TWIC individuals.
   Under terms of the Los Angeles contract announced Monday, Unisys will plan, design, develop and manage a field test of the new system and help participating terminal operators integrate TWIC-enabled access control systems.
   Financial details of the contract were not released.