Stockholm Arlanda Airport is being modernized and will receive, among other things, a new security checkpoint in Terminal 5 in 2023. Following a public procurement procedure, Swedavia has signed an agreement with a supplier of a standard system for checking passengers' hand luggage at security checkpoints. The system does not handle personal data or other sensitive information. The procurement has followed applicable procurement regulations (LUF) and has been carried out in accordance with the Security Protection Act.
Following a successful tender, an agreement has been signed with Nuctech, an established supplier of screening equipment to a number of airports, ports and border controls around Europe. Nuctech is a Chinese company and the X-ray equipment is manufactured by the company's subsidiary in Poland. The X-ray equipment will be installed and commissioned by the Swedish subcontractor NSC Sweden.
– The equipment from Nuctech is approved by ECAC, which is the authority responsible for approving the screening equipment that may be used by airports in Europe. The procurement also follows the rules according to the Security Protection Act. Swedavia will also sign a security protection agreement with the supplier, says Mats Paulsson, Head of Corporate Security at Swedavia.
The X-ray equipment is standard equipment with the latest technology for checking hand luggage and means that travelers no longer need to X-ray electronics and liquids separately. The system will be used as part of the new security check in Terminal 5, which is expected to be completed in 2023. The work in the security check will be carried out and staffed by Swedavia's contracted security check operator, the Swedish security company Avarn Security.
– A security protection agreement means that as a supplier you are obliged to maintain the security protection required to protect the security-sensitive operations where the equipment is used. This is regulated in a security protection agreement. The agreement is signed in connection with the commercial agreement between Swedavia and the supplier, as well as any subcontractors. The agreement regulates the areas of information security, personnel security – such as security clearance – and physical security. However, this is a standard system for X-rays that will not handle any personal data or other sensitive information, says Mats Paulsson.
The procurement of the new X-ray system was carried out in accordance with the Act on Procurement in the Supply Sectors (LUF) and a handful of mainly international players chose to participate in the procurement. In the qualification round, the suppliers were evaluated on their financial and technical capacity. Subsequently, the companies that advanced in the procurement had to meet around 60 quality parameters as well as requirements for IT security and requirements linked to the Security Protection Act. The procurement legislation also means that suppliers who meet the formal criteria for the procurement cannot be discriminated against.
– Our assessment is that we have followed the applicable legislation both in terms of the procurement and the safety legislation and we have made the safety protection assessments that should be made before such a procurement. But we of course welcome the fact that the Swedish Transport Agency is now looking at the matter and making its assessment. We will have a dialogue with the Swedish Transport Agency on this issue in the near future, says Mats Paulsson.
