WASHINGTON — A company awarded a $1 billion contract for airport security equipment performed so poorly that the Homeland Security Department's inspector general recommended that the project be put out for bid again.

The inspector general, Richard Skinner, found in a report released yesterday that Unisys received most of the $1 billion without providing the Transportation Security Administration much of the equipment "critical to airport security and communications."

"The original funding is almost exhausted but many airports still do not have basic information technology and a telecommunications infrastructure," the report said.

The federal officials who head airport security at hundreds of airports complained that Unisys supplied antiquated equipment and that its radios didn't always communicate with each other inside the same concourse — a crucial function during an emergency.

"We are not pleased with the level of services provided as the services are not state of the art and in fact are archaic," wrote one federal security director.

Another complained that some cell phones — "a hodgepodge of $20 Radio Shack sale rack phones" — were so old they actually have a mechanical bell that rings."

The inspector general did note that TSA had an enormous task to take over airport security from private contractors. The agency had inadequate funding and staffing to oversee the contract, the report said.

The inspector general recommended that TSA put the contract out to bid again once the $1 billion is exhausted.

TSA agreed to do so and said it has strengthened its procurement oversight.

"TSA has implemented several changes since the DHS OIG (Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General) opened this audit and continues to make significant improvements within the Office of Acquisition," agency chief Kip Hawley said.

The inspector general noted that TSA knew the contract could exceed $5 billion, but set a ceiling at $1 billion. The report said that when the inspector general asked TSA to explain the low ceiling, agency officials said it was based on "specific requirements." However, the inspector general said the officials "could not document which specific requirements."

The TSA, which was created shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, needed information technology and telecommunications for what it anticipated would be 65,000 employees at headquarters, 429 airports, 21 field offices and a command center, the report said.

Unisys was to have provided dial-up connections, laptops, pagers and cell phones by Nov. 19, 2002. Six weeks later, the company was to have delivered high-speed connections, phones, encrypted radios and an electronic surveillance system.