On November 27, 2018, the TSA opened the application period for companies to submit their application to become a CCSF-K9 provider. GK9PG received notification on December 7 that its Operational Implementation Plan met all of the programme requirements. With this Letter of Approval, the company’s CCSF-K9 Teams that have successfully completed the required Third-Party Certification will begin operations for GK9PG’s established clients immediately.

Based on the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, 100% of everything that travels on a passenger aircraft inside the US must be screened. This is not a new requirement; however, more recent changes to the International Civil Aviation Organisation security standards removes the distinction between passenger and cargo operations. This shifts the screening requirement to all cargo transported via commercial air transportation. As a result, Homeland Security and the TSA have established the Third-Party Canine Screening or 3PK9 program to create and monitor Certified Cargo Screening Facility – K9 (CCSF-K9). Under this programme, private sector canine companies will be able to provide TSA-certified cargo screening canine teams to assist in meeting these new requirements.

3PK9 Teams are third party or private sector explosive detection canine teams. Each team comprises one canine handler and one assigned canine that must pass an annual TSA certification. 3PK9 Teams conduct cargo screening under 49 CFR part 1549. 3PK9 teams perform cargo screening operations as CCSF-K9s once they have been certified by TSA approved certifying organisation.