TSA - Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
Investment ID: 024-000005628
Overview
Program Title
TSA - Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)
Description
TWIC provides a secure credential and biometric security card to the public for eligible transportation workers who require unescorted access to areas of MTSA-regulated facilities and vessels. TWIC was created to review, identify, and mitigate deficiencies in the transportation industry s ability to ensure that only properly cleared and authorized personnel could access the secure areas of maritime transportation systems. The Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) required DHS to issue regulations to conduct a terrorism, criminal history, and immigration security assessment and issue a biometric card credential to eligible applicants prior to being granted unescorted access to secure areas of regulated maritime facilities or vessels. TWIC is jointly managed by TSA and the U.S. Coast Guard. TSA is responsible for enrollment, identity vetting, adjudication and credential issuance.
Type of Program
Major IT Investments
Multi-Agency Category
Not Applicable
Associated Websites
https://www.tsa.gov/for-industry/twichttps://universalenroll.dhs.gov/programs/twic
Investment Detail
The benefit of the TWIC program is that it improves security by a common nation-wide secure biometric credential that is used by operators of regulated maritime entities to make access control decisions for secure areas. The TWIC program established standards and processes for enrollment, vetting, adjudication, redress, card issuance and activation. In addition, TSA continuously monitors all TWIC holders and revokes credentials (via card cancelation) when the individual is no longer eligible for TWIC. The TWIC program currently reports 8 key performance metrics: Fraudulent Document Review Rate; Invalid Enrollment Rate; Average Adjudication Total Accuracy Rate; Average Wait Time; Operational Availability; TWIC Personalization Failure Rate; Program Financial Commitment Variance; and Program Viability. The TWIC program frequently reviews metrics and for 2022, the TWIC program will continue to evaluate existing and potential new performance measures. ROI for the TWIC program is calculated as (Cash In Cash Out)/Cash Out. Cash In is derived from two sources, appropriated funding provided early in the program and fee revenue collected from transportation workers once the program reached operational capability. From FY2003 through FY2021, total TWIC appropriated funds are $156M + Fees Collected $1.32B = $1.48B; Cash Out (Expenses) = $753M; therefore, ROI = (($1.48B-$753M)/$753M) = 96.1%. The 2021 TWIC LCCE provides an affordability analysis that illustrates that the approved budget meets both current and future program requirements. The 2021 TWIC LCCE is planned to be updated and approved by September 2022. The Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) of 2002 required DHS to issue regulations to conduct a terrorism, criminal history, and immigration security assessment and issue a biometric card credential to eligible applicants prior to being granted unescorted access to secure areas of regulated maritime facilities or vessels. The TWIC programs jointly managed by TSA and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). The TWIC program provides a secure credential and biometric security card for eligible transportation workers who require unescorted access to areas of MTSA-regulated facilities and vessels.