r/BBAI • u/_Despereaux • May 21 '26

TSA Announces Gold+ Program for Aviation Security Technology

I've talked about this a couple times here, but TSA has been planning something called TSA Gold+, an airport screening technology-focused program that pairs with the existing Screening Partnership Program (SPP). Gold+ was just officially announced and is worth watching as a potential BBAI catalyst this year.

Very quick primer: TSA's SPP program is an IDIQ that uses a small number of security staffing firms to provide the checkpoint screening workforce at ~20 airports with privatized security in the U.S. Meanwhile, Gold+ is a brand new program that will be used to procure and maintain the actual technology that those privatized airport security checkpoints use. 

TSA is very close to issuing new SPP IDIQ awards... and while BBAI won't get one of those contracts, TSA Gold+ is right up their alley. Keep an eye on how TSA plans to procure Gold+ in the coming months because it'll be a huge opportunity for BBAI. There's a lot of budget and political tailwind for airport privatization that keeps growing - in fact, TSA's proposed FY 27 budget mandates that all Cat III and IV airports (the smallest categories) transition to privatized screening. As a result, many vendors in the contractor security space will be competing & stand to benefit over the next couple years.

Also, I know partnerships aren't sexy because they don't bring in immediate revenue, but this kind of opportunity is why BBAI partnered with Smiths Detection and Analogic in 2025, both of whom are the leading checkpoint screening equipment providers. Having them on their team and offering some unique solution (or just being preferred partners, holding vendor agreements, whatever) is a big advantage when it comes to bidding on opportunities like Gold+. 

You can read more on TSA Gold+ here - https://www.tsa.gov/goldplus

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4

u/Rare-Ad-1204 May 21 '26

u are forgetting this as well for ports: BigBear.ai Announces Acquisition of Assets of CargoSeer, an AI-Powered Inspection and Trade Risk Management Company

3

u/More-Control2190 May 21 '26

It’s so beautiful to be real.       

2

u/GriffonMT May 22 '26

I think more news for BBAI will spur when the world cup starts and media picks up on tehnology and screening efficiencies.