Homeland Security requests information about biometric matching system technologies

The Office of Biometric Identity Management (OBIM) of the Department of Homeland Security has posted a request for information (RFI) to get industry information regarding current and near future technologies to store, match, and analyze biometric data.

OBIM will use this information to provide customers with important data regarding immigration violators, criminals, and known or suspected terrorists and supports immigration management and border security decision makers.

Supporting national security and public safety as well as enabling operational missions across DHS mission areas, OBIM’s biometric identification and analysis services help government and law enforcement decision makers determine whether individuals pose a risk to the United States and whether those individuals meet the requirements for a specific government benefit or credential.

In a fiscal 2016 Budget Request drafted in February, the DHS said it is seeking an initial $65.8 million to build a new biometric verification system, which is part of a four-increment phased process to replace the 20-year-old Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT).

The new system will lower operating costs, improve detection capabilities, increase efficiency in processing, and improve scalability, the DHS wrote.

IDENT is currently processing 300,000 transactions a day, which is a significant spike over the 220,000 transactions it was processing a year ago.

All capability statements for the RTF must be submitted via email by May 15, 2015.

Article Topics

biometrics  |  Department of Homeland Security  |  OBIM  |  RFI