Airport Alert: TSA Announces Gold+, An Effort to Modernize Aviation Security at Select Airports
This morning, TSA announced an upcoming public-private partnership opportunity to modernize aviation security at airports. This program, called Gold+, will build on TSA’s current screening partnership program for contract screening and combine that with new aviation security technology and related maintenance efforts to accelerate the delivery of innovative, cutting-edge solutions tailored to airports’ specific needs and to elevate customer experience. While AAAE expects this will begin as a proof of concept at a small number of airports, TSA states that Gold+ “is designed to accommodate airports of all sizes and layouts.”
TSA Gold+ is a voluntary, opt-in model where procurement costs must not exceed the government’s costs for staffing. TSA Gold+ requires the contractor (or offeror) to provide a complete, turnkey solution to deliver and manage both security screening technology (including maintenance) and a skilled workforce capable of screening passengers and their property at participating airports for explosives, weapons, and other prohibited items. The turnkey security solutions are specified on TSA’s acceptable capabilities list or have been tested and approved for use by TSA. The offeror will receive financial incentives if they meet various metrics specified in the contract.
According to TSA, Gold+ redefines the relationship between TSA, the airports, and the industry by transitioning TSA’s role from both operator and regulator to just a security regulator. TSA will maintain robust regulatory oversight to ensure compliance with outcome-based security metrics while collaborating with private sector to drive innovation and operational excellence.
Details on Company Bids and Airport-Specific Work:
Today, TSA released draft Performance of Work Statement and Evaluation Factors for airports, interested vendors, and other stakeholders to review and provide feedback on.
Airport and company specific details are outlined in the Evaluation Factors whitepaper. In general, TSA will evaluate companies (offerors) bids to become part of the Gold+ program using a best-value tradeoff, considering technical merit and risk alongside price, within the statutory constraint that the total contract cost is at or below the Federal cost baseline. Additionally, there will be airport-specific task orders where offerors will describe how they will execute the mission of providing security screening services at a specific airport, including:
- How they will organize and operate checkpoint and checked baggage screening to deliver secure, efficient, and compliant operations that meet TSA’s standards.
- How the proposed solution aligns with the airport’s layout, traffic patterns, growth plans, and community/economic role.
- A high-level concept of operations that explains how staffing, technology, and processes will be integrated to achieve required security, throughput, and customer experience outcomes for that airport.
Offerors will also have to describe any innovative concepts they propose to implement at the airport—such as off‑premise screening, automation, redesigned curb‑to‑gate flows, or differentiated lane concepts—and explain how these innovations will maintain or improve security, throughput, and passenger experience.
Upcoming Industry Day and Feedback Solicitation:
On Thursday, May 21, at 1 pm ET, TSA will hold a Gold+ Industry Day to solicit feedback. Interested parties are required to register for the Industry Day (which has both virtual and in-person options) by COB, Monday, May 18, 2026, using this link.
In addition to participating in the industry day, AAAE plans to submit feedback on these proposals. If you are so inclined, please share your feedback on the draft Performance of Work Statement and Evaluation Factors with us by May 21, 2026. TSA has requested that all feedback be submitted to the agency no later than May 25, 2026, using their special notice feedback form.
