TSI Prism to Outfit Federal Detention Centers With RFID Systems

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — TSI Prism, a subsidiary of Alanco Technologies Inc., was selected by Northrop Grumman to provide RFID inmate tracking systems at 19 federal immigration facilities operated by the Department of Homeland Security.

The subcontract is the result of a $14 million federal task order awarded to Northrop to develop an integrated system that will locate and track detainees, reserve bed space and manage detainee transportation at the detention facilities.

Northrop tasked Alanco/TSI to supply system hardware, including 22,000 proprietary wrist transmitters, staff training and system integration services for the 19 detention centers.

Northrop’s contract consists of a one-year base period with three one-year options for a total potential value of $44.3 million, according to reports.

The contracts are part of an ongoing effort by DHS and its sub-agency, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Detention and Removal Operations, to increase detention capacity, incorporate RFID detainee tracking and modernize systems to improve transportation asset usage and bed space management.

The detention facilities, which house more than 20,000 illegal immigrants, are operated by ICE-DRO and have experienced a population spike in recent months.

Officials with Alanco/TSI estimate the project will be one of the largest installations of RFID tracking technology in the United States.

The technology is in use at prisons in Michigan, California, Illinois, Ohio, Missouri, Virginia, Indiana and Minnesota.

The final scope and potential expansion of the RFID systems, which can provide real-time inmate and officer identification, location and tracking capabilities, will be determined by Northrop Grumman and the ICE-DRO prior to the start of the project.