TSA OPEN for Business Act

To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require a strategy to diversify the technology stakeholder marketplace regarding the acquisition by the Transportation Security Administration of security screening technologies, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the TSA Opportunities to Pursue Expanded Networks for Business Act TSA OPEN for Business Act 2. Strategy (a) In general Subtitle B of title XVI of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 563 1617. Diversified technology stakeholder marketplace (a) In general Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a strategy to diversify the technology stakeholder marketplace that the Administrator relies upon to acquire security screening technologies, including by increased participation of small business innovators. (b) Contents The strategy required under subsection (a) shall include the following: (1) Information on how Administration solicitation, testing, evaluation, piloting, acquisition, and procurement processes impact the Administrator’s ability to acquire from a technology stakeholder, including a small business innovator, that has not previously provided technology to the Administration, an innovative technology or capability with the potential to enhance transportation security. (2) Specific actions that the Administrator will take, including modifications to the processes described in paragraph (1), to foster diversification within the technology stakeholder marketplace, together with information on projected timelines for such actions. (3) Plans for how the Administrator may, to the extent practicable, assist a small business innovator at certain points in such processes, including when such an innovator lacks adequate resources to participate in such processes, to help ensure that an advanced technology or capability can be developed and acquired by the Administrator. (4) A feasibility assessment of partnering with an organization described in section 501(c)(3) (A) Establishing an organization described in section 501(c)(3) (B) Enhanced engagement, either through the Science and Technology Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security or directly, with the In-Q-tel program described in subparagraph (A). (c) Rule of construction Nothing in this section may be construed as requiring changes to the Transportation Security Administration standards for security technology. (d) Definitions In this section: (1) Intelligence community The term intelligence community 50 U.S.C. 3003(4) (2) Small business concern The term small business concern 15 U.S.C. 632 (3) Small business innovator The term small business innovator . (b) Comptroller general review Not later than one year after the submission of the strategy required under section 1617 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (as added by subsection (a)), the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a review of the extent to which such strategy addresses the requirements of such section, has resulted in increased participation of small business innovators in the technology stakeholder marketplace, and has resulted in a diversification of the marketplace. (c) Clerical amendment The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1616 the following new item: Sec. 1617. Diversified technology stakeholder marketplace. . September 4, 2018 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

Summary: TSA Opportunities to Pursue Expanded Networks for Business Act or the TSA OPEN for Business Act. (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to submit to Congress a strategy to diversify the technology stakeholder marketplace that the TSA relies upon to acquire security screening technologies, including by increased participation of small business innovators. The bill specifies the content of such strategy. The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to review the strategy and the extent to which it has resulted in increased participation of small business innovators and the diversification of the marketplace.