Making its first foray into the aviation security product space, SAIC [SAI] yesterday said it has agreed to acquire Reveal Imaging Technologies, a developer and manufacturer of explosive detection systems (EDS) used to screen checked baggage at airports in the United States and internationally.
Terms of the deal, which is expected to close later this month, were not disclosed.
Reveal, which is based in Massachusetts, has a family of EDS products, although its best seller is the CT-80 series of reduced size machines. These are typically sold to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and international airports and governments for operations in small to medium-size airports. The system, which handles relatively low baggage throughputs, can be deployed in airport terminals or inline with baggage handling systems.
In addition to its CT-80 systems, Reveal also makes another reduced size EDS, the CT-800, and has developed a computed tomography-based scanner for checkpoint applications. Last fall, the company also received a potential $3.9 million contract from the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate to develop a whole body imaging system based on active millimeter wave and acoustic sensing technology.
For SAIC, the pending acquisition further bolsters its homeland security offerings–in particular aviation security–which currently are heavily weighted to the seaport and border security offerings. The company’s marquis product is its VACIS family of cargo and vehicle gamma-ray inspection systems that are sold to Customs and Border Protection and international customs agencies.
SAIC also makes radiation portal monitors for CBP and foreign countries used at land ports of entry and seaports to screen containers for radiological materials in containers and vehicles.
Earlier this year, SAIC acquired Spectrum San Diego, a small firm that developed a relatively low-cost, low-dose, dual-energy vehicle X-Ray system called CarScan that can be set up quickly and allows occupants to remain inside their car while being scanned. The VACIS systems are more expensive and are typically used on larger vehicles and containers and require occupants to exit the vehicle before scanning (Defense Daily, Jan. 6).
While SAIC isn’t a stranger to the airport security environment, it doesn’t’ appear that the company has done much work here. Last year, TSA selected it and three other contractors to compete for task orders under the Security Equipment Integration Services (SEIS) program. However, only Raytheon [RTN] has announced any orders under the SEIS award, the latest an $88 million contract to install passenger screening equipment at the nation’s airports.
It’s possible that given SAIC’s inclusion on the SEIS contract that it may have to divest itself from this work to avoid Organizational Conflicts of Interest, industry officials told sister publication Defense Daily.
In addition to its purchase of Spectrum San Diego, SAIC has made a number of relatively recent acquisitions in the homeland security-related space. The company has made three acquisitions in the cybersecurity space going back to last summer, and earlier this year acquired Science, Engineering and Technology Associates, a developer and integrator of information and sensor technologies that has developed the radar-based CounterBomber system to detect concealed explosives on persons at stand-off ranges.
Last summer, SAIC also acquired R.W. Beck Group Inc., which among other things provides emergency management consulting services, further bolstering its capabilities across the homeland security landscape. SAIC also helps the Coast Guard with its Biometrics at Sea program.