Engineering Innovation, Enhancing Security
Our capabilities and expertise Can support your program or project
GST has been offering services to Federal organizations including DHS, TSA, Navy, Army and Air Force in the following areas for over three decades.
Detailed Capabilities

Systems Engineering
GST provides systems engineering, design review, development specification, modeling/simulation, configuration management, and logistics support under our Professional Engineering and Logistic Support Services contract with TSA. This supports six divisions of the TSA’s Office of Security Capabilities in management, deployment, and improvement of baggage, passenger, and cargo security screening systems.
Our application of Model Based Systems Engineering is critical to our support of the entire life-cycle of the systems we conceptualize, design, verify, validate, test, and put into the field. Using digital models and simulations, we provide our clients with visualized, interactive system concepts that make it easier and more effective to ensure all elements of the life-cycle including logistics, human/system interactions, useability, scalability, and more are considered from the beginning.

Research and Development (R&D)
The opening of the FAA Aviation Security Laboratory in 1993 was the beginning of GST’s decades long contribution to the science of detecting explosives and other threats. It started with early research into what characteristics make explosives detectible and what levels of sensitivity should be required for certification of detection systems. GST managed the Trace Explosives Detection and Explosive Simulant Development Laboratories at the DHS Transportation Security Laboratory and conducted R&D and Test & Evaluation on bottle screening and passenger portal technologies to cope with evolving threats.
We have identified and performed assessments of emerging security screening technologies. We have reviewed and evaluated technical proposals of emerging technologies and provided comprehensive analyses and recommendations as to the accuracy and technical soundness of the proposals. We have assisted the TSA with technical reviews of Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) proposals with regard to technical feasibility, application to TSA screening systems, and compliance with requirements.
GST’s recent contributions have been in the testing, improvement, and deployment of Computed Tomography (CT) technology at security checkpoints. We support the planning and conduct of Innovation Task Force (ITF) technology demonstrations, develop test plans, and conduct data collection, data analysis, and reporting.

Test & Evaluation (T&E)
Test & Evaluation is one of GST’s core competencies and most diversified technical areas. GST supports all aspects of testing; from Master Test Plans through developmental, operational, and certification testing of new systems; to verification and validation of work done by other contractors. Since 1993, we have supported T&E for all security equipment deployed by the TSA, including Explosives Trace Detection equipment, threat image projection, bottle screening systems, metal detector portals, and Advanced Technology equipment
GST produces commercial, military and homemade explosive simulants for DHS and other Government agencies. These simulants are safe, inert material, but when examined by an explosive detection system, they mimic the properties of the real explosive.

Human Factors Engineering (HFE)
GST provides HFE support in developing requirements, data collection, statistical analysis, user needs assessments, human performance gap analysis, use case development, prototype development, EMT/assessment, and general human factors support to supplement the human factors expertise within TSA’s Human Performance Branch (HPB).
GST provides HFE support for TSA’s HPB as they develop policies and equipment that are useful, usable, and safe. Our team consists of human factors engineers, experimental psychologists, and cognitive scientists with advanced or terminal degrees in their fields. GST’s Human Factors Engineers are a team with end-to-end research capabilities including developing use cases, determining workflow, creating experimental design, study development/coding, data collection, advanced statistics, and report development.
We integrate human factors expertise into each product development process, generating human-centered design in a controlled approach, which directly feeds and integrates with systems engineering development tracks. GST HFE support also includes internal Tiger Team initiatives, ad hoc requests from internal and external divisions and components, assessment of bounding box effectiveness, usability testing, and passenger experience data collection and assessment.

Quality Management
GST assists testing and calibration laboratories to prepare for, achieve, and maintain certification in important quality standards such as ISO/IEC 17025 – the international standard for laboratory quality and reliability. Compliance with this standard demonstrates commitment to quality standards, technical proficiency, and scientific rigor. GST’s work enables confidence in test and calibration results, cooperation between laboratories, and reduction in the need for retesting. GST helped the DHS Transportation Security Laboratory manage its ISO 17025 and ISO 9001 certifications enabling meticulous documentation of testing and configuration management of equipment and systems in each phase of the test and evaluation cycle.

Configuration Management
GST provides life cycle logistic support and hardware/software configuration management planning and control for all TSA security technology equipment positioned at airports and transportation centers. We also provide configuration management of TSA-approved, privately-owned cargo screening systems.
GST provides Configuration Control Board (CCB) Support, performing technical reviews of all engineering change proposals (ECPs), requests for deviations (RFDs), all developmental engineering proposals (DEPs), requests for waivers (RFWs), and checkpoint, checked baggage, and developmental change requests (CRs).

Integrated Logistics Support (ILS)
GST provides comprehensive integrated logistics support services including acquisition logistics, sustainment logistics, logistics planning, and life cycle support services for all the TSA’s security technology equipment positioned at airports and transportation centers and has reviewed hundreds of configuration change requests for our ILS Branch clients.
GST provides Logistics Engineering support to TSA’s ILS Branch includes participating on Integrated Product Teams to continually refine knowledge of developments in screening technology and TSA’s acquisition process. From the Checkpoint Property Screening Program (CPSS) Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) forward, our team updated language to explicitly support TSA’s change to Reliability as a primary measure of reliability, availability, and maintainability (RAM) during the qualification testing, Analyze/Select and Operation & Support phases of the acquisition life cycle.
GST provides logistics services designed to optimize equipment and system readiness throughout their service life cycle at the lowest possible life cycle cost. With an emphasis on maintaining operational readiness and supporting the modernization of equipment, our services comply with government and military directives and established industry standards.

Baggage Handling Systems (BHS)
GST has a triple role in support of TSAs management of Baggage & Passenger screening. GST provides field technical support to the deployed Explosive Detection Systems technologies, solves problems, develops DHS Acquisition Directive 102 artifacts, and completes studies to evaluate potential solutions.
GST also supports the TSA Planning Guidelines and Design Standards (PGDS) working group for Checked Baggage Inspection Systems (CBIS), incorporating approved comments into updated PGDS drafts, and facilitating publication of updated versions. GST facilitates and leads multiple PGDS follow-on studies each year to further inform potential updates to the PGDS.
This experience gives us a “real world” understanding of CBIS, Baggage Handling Systems (BHS), and airport operations upon which GST builds TSA simulation analyses that address the specific requirements of CBIS designs at US airports to support design, development and recapitalization. Our team has developed simulation models for hundreds of airports since 9/11.
GST provides cost validations and multi-stage Design Review Support for the review and processing of new/upgraded Baggage Handling System (BHS) designs submitted to TSA for approval. GST maintains a detailed database that tracks milestones and status of every design review distributed weekly to TSA.

Cybersecurity
GST provides cybersecurity support of Transportation Security Equipment (TSE) through the Security Technology Integrated Program (STIP) for the TSA. This support is achieved through the analysis of current cybersecurity solutions and proposing technical solutions related to TSE integration for identifying and mitigating potential cybersecurity risks. GST makes recommendations for improvements to the technical design and implementation efforts to further support a robust, sustainable IT security posture.
GST provides National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 800 Series Risk Management Framework based security authorization and assessment (SAA), cyber security and system/application cyber security architecture technical and management support for the TSA Office of Acquisition & Program Management (OAPM). Our support includes:
- Performing SAA tasks in accordance with NIST Risk Management Framework.
- Conducting security vulnerability assessments.
- Validating security posture compliance of Unix/Unix variant and Microsoft COTS operating systems (Windows 10, Server 2012/Server 2016).
- Testing/validating classified threat identification/matching algorithms.
- Providing cyber security maturity model framework for explosive trace and explosive detection systems in addition to security architecture support.
- Developing, documenting, and testing cloud security controls and system/application migration requirements.
GST support is achieved through the analysis of current cybersecurity solutions and proposing technical solutions related to TSE integration for identifying and mitigating potential cybersecurity risks. GST makes recommendations for improvements to the technical design and implementation efforts to further support a robust, sustainable IT security posture.

Production and QC of Trace Standards & Formulations
GST provides management and documentation of complex scientific information for product development. This includes quality assurance in the management of trace standards and formulations ensuring product quality and compliance with specifications.
This support encompasses robust capabilities for sample and specifications management and product testing/analysis during different stages of formulation, reusable formulation templates, capable of varying sample calculation requirements, and the ability to move formulations from one stage to the next with clear management approval.

Explosive Simulants & Test Articles
At the DHS Transportation Security Laboratory (TSL), GST produces explosive simulants and precision standards to ensure consistent results in developmental and certification testing of new explosive detection equipment.
GST also produces a wide variety of test articles to test detection systems’ effectiveness on a wide variety of shapes and materials.
Affiliated Companies
Joint Research and Development’s acquisition of GST combines two companies with deep test and evaluation, research and development and systems engineering capabilities. Combined, the two companies nearly double their capabilities to meet Government requirements for high quality technical support in critical mission areas.
GST and Sayres Defense combine extensive complementary capabilities to deliver complete solutions for Federal, State, and Local organizations. Leveraging our affiliations, we address diverse needs across critical domains, offering tailored, mission-focused services. Together, we ensure high-quality, efficient support to overcome complex challenges and drive success for government organizations at every level.
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