Notice

Competition summary: airport vehicle checkpoint screening

Updated 25 July 2018

This Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) themed competition seeks to make a step change in aviation security through the development of innovative science and technology. The competition is focused on new solutions to the challenge of vehicle checkpoint (VCP) screening at airports, in order to prevent explosives, weapons and other threats from accessing the secure airside area.

The competition will be launched in mid-July with an initial budget of £1 million to fund a mixture of low and mid-level TRL proposals.

1. Background

This competition is part of a wider range of activities being carried out by the Future Aviation Security Solutions (FASS) programme, which is a joint Department for Transport and Home Office initiative. The FASS programme is investing £25.5 million over a 5 year period to promote innovation to improve aviation security.

VCPs play a vital role in the functioning of airports. All airport vehicles must be security screened before being authorised to access the secure airside perimeter. VCPs screen a wide variety of vehicles on a daily basis, carrying goods which are vital for airports to operate. For example, VCPs need to screen catering, aviation fuel deliveries, air cargo and maintenance goods. The screening of vehicles and their loads takes place using a variety of methods, such as explosive trace detection, x-ray screening and manual searches.

We are confident in the ability of current processes to detect threats. However, they can be laborious and time consuming which can impact the functioning of airports. For example, prolonged security searches at the VCP could, in the worst case scenario, delay a flight departure, should the necessary fuel, catering or cargo not be available in time. Therefore, new innovative solutions to detect explosives, weapons and other threats would be welcomed. Improvements in detection speed and effectiveness would bring benefits to customers, staff and the overall airport experience.

2. The challenge

This themed competition seeks to identify innovative solutions for screening vehicles at VCPs, including addressing three of the areas which represent the most time-consuming and laborious screening processes:

• vehicle engine compartments: both conventional bonnet and ‘tilt cab’
• bulky loads such as: construction materials; large liquids (including fuel containers) or sealed packages
• screening other hard to search parts of the vehicle, such as the driver’s cab or load space

In addition to new screening techniques, we are also interested in existing technologies being adapted to work within the VCP setting. All solutions must be capable of being used within the physical and operational constraints of VCPs, which often have limited space.

3. The competition

Contracts are expected to be awarded in January 2019 and will run for 6 months. It is expected that a second phase of funding will be made available to help further develop promising projects from the innovation track.

Full details of the competition will be made available soon on the DASA website. If you would like to be notified when they are please register your interest at accelerator@dstl.gov.uk, with the subject line of Vehicle screening EoI.