DHS starts the bidding for $441M biometric tech contract

The Homeland Security Department has opened the window for industry to start working on and turning in bids for a potential five-year, $440.7 million contract covering the supply of biometric capture devices.

DHS is eyeing a quick turnaround with proposals being due Sept. 18 and questions have to be in by Wednesday, the department said in a Thursday notice to release the final solicitation.

Other agencies will be able to place orders through the Biometric Capture Device GWAC vehicle, such as the State and Justice departments.

DHS is standing up this new vehicle as mandatory for use by its components  to achieve economies of scale and standardize biometric tech purchases, which the request for proposals describe as having been fragmented over the years

The new contract has five product tracks for companies to pursue: fingerprint, facial, iris, palmprint and multi-modal devices. Bidders must submit separate proposals for each track, but are free to compete for as many as they are interested in.

Ancillary or other related services are not within the scope of this contract and will need to be acquired separately.

DHS is using four factors to evaluate bids, starting with an initial pass-or-fail rating of device availability. Bids must also include supporting documentation for each biometric capture device for later use in contract administration after the awards.

Technical approach is Factor No. 3 and will assign confidence ratings of “High,” “Some” and “Low.” Price is the fourth factor.

The bar to clear for an award is Some or High Confidence for technical approach, in addition to the Pass mark for device availability.