Kansas City, Mo. ? The company awarded a $28 million federal contract to screen passengers and luggage at Kansas City International Airport has a strong vote of confidence from the Transportation Security Administration.

The Kansas City airport is one of five in the nation where screening will continue to be done by private companies rather than federal government employees. Members of the City Council had expressed concern about the choice of International Total Services, pointing to its having filed for bankruptcy last year and its security breaches at other airports since last year’s terrorist attacks.

Federal officials addressed some of the council’s concerns at a meeting of its Aviation Committee on Wednesday.

Thomas Blank, associate undersecretary for regulation-policy at the Transportation Security Administration, said that the International Total Services that filed for bankruptcy last year is not exactly the same company that will do the KCI screening.

Nashville-based SMS Holdings Corp. bought International Total Services’ aviation arm in April and is now responsible for the screening, Blank said.

“This company is financially solid, viable and reliable,” he said. “We have a high amount of confidence that they will perform well.”

Regarding the security breaches at other airports, Blank said bidders for the KCI contract were graded on past performance but none of the six finalists had perfect records.

Councilwoman Teresa Loar, who heads the Aviation Committee, said she was pleased to hear from the federal agency.

“I still have some concerns about this shuffleboarding of ITS with this holding company in Tennessee,” said Loar, who has been a vocal critic of the contract.

“But it’s good to know that the Transportation Security Administration is listening to us,” she said. “I hope to foster a good relationship with them.

Besides Kansas City, other airports that will continue to use private screeners under the pilot program are in Rochester, N.Y., Tupelo, Miss., Jackson Hole, Wyo. and San Francisco.