SRCSGT | D | Biometric Land Exit Solution

FBO DAILY ISSUE OF MAY 03, 2008 FBO #2350
SOURCES SOUGHT

D -- Biometric Land Exit Solution

Notice Date: 5/1/2008
Notice Type: Sources Sought
NAICS: 541330 — Engineering Services
Contracting Office: Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Chief Procurement Officer, Office of Procurement Operations, US-VISIT Acquisition Division, 1616 N. Fort Myer Drive, Suite 1800, Arlington, Virginia, 22209-3110
ZIP Code: 22209-3110
Solicitation Number: USV-EXIT-001
Point of Contact: Patricia AnneOliver,, Phone: 202-295-5490, Bob Richards,, Phone: 202-298-5122
E-Mail Address: patricia.a.oliver@dhs.gov, robert.richards@dhs.gov
Small Business Set-Aside: N/A
Description: The United States and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology (US-VISIT) REQUEST FOR INFORMATION/SOURCES SOUGHT (RFI/SS) BIOMETRIC LAND EXIT SOLUTION 1.0Purpose This is a Request for Information (RFI)/ Sources Sought announcement (SS) for the purpose of conducting market research. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of responses to this document. Information obtained is for planning purposes only. The Government, by means of this RFI/SS, seeks to identify potential solutions, service providers and suppliers interested in participating in the design and development of the Biometric Land Exit Solution. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also requests questions and/or feedback on the draft description of business needs, on the characteristics of current facilities described in this document, as well as suggestions for concepts of operation, technologies, devices, and the broad outline of how the Government might provide the Biometric Land Exit Solution for land exit modalities by in-scope travelers at the northern and southern borders of the US. Respondents to this RFI/SS are asked to describe what technology and/or device/s should, in their opinion, be used to capture biographic and biometric information in a notional exit process and how the recommended approach will provide solutions for the needs of this RFI/SS (see below, Section 3 - Operational Needs). If the respondent has specific recommendations on how biographic and biometric data capture should be done with a recommended technology or product, those recommendations should be made explicit in the response to this RFI/SS. Respondents to this RFI/SS may submit material that addresses all or part of the biographic and biometric data capture needs for any or all of the travel modalities encountered at land Ports of Entry (POEs). Respondents should provide a clear statement of how each part of their submission addresses a specific need in this RFI/SS. If the approach described requires specific improvements to (a) land POE/s, the respondent shall describe what is needed in sufficient detail to allow the Government to evaluate the practicality of the approach. 2.0General and Background Information The 9/11 Commission, Congress and DHS agree that being able to accurately document the entry and exit of non-U.S. citizens is a priority for securing our nation’s borders. The results of this market research will be used to inform planning for technologies, devices, processes and/or procedures that can be used to biometrically verify that a specific United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology (US-VISIT) in-scope traveler has exited from the U.S. via a land border. “In-scope” (see 4.1 Solution Complexities – In-Scope Travelers) is defined as the categories of visitors to the U.S. who are subject to the processes and procedures established by the US-VISIT program. US-VISIT entry procedures use biographic information from valid travel documents and biometric data (currently fingerprints and a digital photograph) to verify identity. The US-VISIT program provides biometric identification and analysis services to agencies throughout the U.S. immigration, border management, law enforcement and intelligence communities. US-VISIT’s services help other agencies (stakeholders) such as the Customs & Border Patrol (CBP), Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Transportation (DOT), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of State (DOS), U. S. Coast Guard and others accurately identify people and assess risk. Most international visitors experience US-VISIT biometric procedures—the collection of digital fingerprints and a photograph—whenever they apply for visas at embassies or consulates abroad and when they enter the United States through air, sea and land border ports of entry. In each case, a visitor’s fingerprints are checked against a database of known and suspected terrorists, criminals and immigration violators. U.S. consular officers and CBP officers use the results from this check to make visa issuance and admission decisions. On November 29, 2007, DHS began replacing the two-fingerprint scanners with new 10-fingerprint scanners at U.S. ports of entry to collect additional fingerprints from international visitors. The US-VISIT Program deploys identification and verification capabilities at air, sea and land Ports of Entry (POEs) that improve the integrity of the immigration and border management system while also mitigating the amount of time needed to process in-scope travelers. Functionality developed by the US-VISIT Program has been implemented in phased roll-outs called Increments. Increments 1, 2 and 3 have provided the capability to obtain quick, secure, and biometrically verified identities in the air, sea and land border environments. These capabilities are used to assure that certain categories of aliens who travel to the United States are here legally, that the documents presented are legal documents within their valid period, and that the bearer of a valid travel document is the person to whom the document was issued. The biometric exit capability that is the subject of this RFI/SS might use the same information currently gathered by US-VISIT, but respondents to this RFI/SS are invited to suggest other approaches for establishing identity and verifying the identity with highly accurate and difficult to falsify biometric data. Because DHS already provides biometric (fingerprint) matching capabilities and much associated Department of Homeland Security (DHS) infrastructure has been deployed to acquire, transmit, match, and provide the results of fingerprint matching, the respondents to this RFI/SS are asked to use these capabilities where they are relevant. However, DHS appreciates that other modalities may emerge in responses to this RFI/SS that also require a centralized matching capability (i.e., biometric matching on modalities other than fingerprints). In these cases, the respondent should structure their response to use existing capabilities, including additional capabilities for the Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT) managed by US-VISIT, and describe how and why the suggested approach would be an improvement over the fingerprint methods used currently. However, if the response does not require a centralized biometric matching capability, the respondent should describe how biometric verification of identity would occur in a manner that minimizes the opportunity for fraudulent use of documents, credentials, devices, or other means to establish identity and should also describe how and why the suggested approach would be an improvement over the fingerprint methods used currently. The entry process at land Ports of Entry accommodates in-scope pedestrians, or in-scope travelers in personal autos, trucks, buses, motorcycles, bicycles, or similar conveyances, or in-scope travelers in/on commercial vehicles, including buses, trains, boats, ferries, or other surface transport conveyances. These modes of travel are referred to as land entry and exit modalities. In-scope travelers include people who intend to arrive or actually do arrive at U.S. ports for any purpose that involves applying for entry to the United States. If the non-US citizen traveler is subject to US-VISIT procedures on entry to the U.S., that traveler will likely also be subject to US-VISIT procedures to be established for exit from the U.S. For entry to the United States, US-VISIT in-scope travelers must carry and present appropriate travel documents (e.g., a valid passport and visa, if required) and possibly other documents (e.g., Arrival Departure Record Customs Border Patrol (CBP) Form I -94, for Non-immigrant Visitors with a visa for the United States(Form I-94). Each US-VISIT in scope traveler is required to provide biometrics - digital fingerprints and photograph - during the entry inspection process. Standards for fingerprints and photographs are available at www.biometrics.gov/Standards. In contrast to the entry process, other than a pilot testing program, see, e.g., 8 C.F.R. 215.8, no such formal biometric procedures have yet been required for in-scope travelers exiting the United States. This RFI/SS seeks ideas, approaches, processes, technologies, devices, and/or operational models for implementing an automated, biometrically verified exit capability that interfaces to and interoperates with other government networks, services, and databases that are also used for US-VISIT entry procedures. Specifically, US-VISIT has provided the means to collect specified biographic and biometric information from in-scope travelers as they enter the U.S. in order to verify identity and provide information used to decide the legal basis for entry into the U.S. Biometric verification applies to non U.S. citizens (i.e., persons who exit the U.S. and are within the applicable categories of in-scope travelers who are subject to US-VISIT requirements). Generally speaking, US-VISIT currently applies to all visitors (with limited exemptions) holding non-immigrant visas and to visitors from visa waiver countries, regardless of country of origin. The biographic and biometric information collected is used by DHS to verify identity, implement screening procedures, and execute the responsibilities it has to operate a comprehensive immigration program. As part of the systems and capabilities used to establish and verify the identity of an in scope traveler and record entry and exit information, US-VISIT operates two systems: IDENT is a secure biometric matching system that uses fingerprints and may be extended in the future to use other biometric modalities to verify identity and to identify persons when a verification attempt cannot be confirmed. IDENT includes information collected by DHS as well as from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), ICE, deported felons and sexual registrants, and DHS information on previous criminal histories and previous IDENT enrollments. A separate system, the Arrival-Departure Information System (ADIS), is used to securely store non U.S. citizen entry and exit data received from air and sea carrier entry and exit manifests and land entry. Other systems also support or are connected to IDENT, including the FBI’s Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS), the Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), the Computer Linked Application Information System (CLAIMS), the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS), the Consolidated Consular Database (CCD), the Global Enrollment System (GES), the U.S. Coast Guard’s Mona Pass Proof of Concept mobile biometrics capability, and others. As a general rule, US-VISIT prefers open systems, standards-based data collection and data messaging formats, and commercially-available readily interoperable technology, so that installation, operation, maintenance, and communications are based on accepted, widely deployed and proven technology solutions. While products and technologies that do not attain all of these goals will be considered, US-VISIT requires that the respondents to this RFI/SS clearly describe and detail any non-standard, not-open, and/or proprietary aspects of their response to this RFI/SS, so that the Government can develop an accurate understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of the response. The current exit procedure in effect at air, sea and land ports is specifically, all international in-scope travelers who received a Form I-94 upon arrival must still return it to an airline or ship representative when departing the United States or deposit the Form I-94 into a designated receptacle if exiting the U.S. by means of one of the land travel modalities. DHS will publish proposed air and sea biometric exit requirements and plans to deploy an air and sea port biometric verification of identity solution for exit 2009. This RFI/SS is to support a similar biometric verification of identity for in-scope travelers as they exit the U.S. at a land port. Legal entry to the United States occurs at specific POEs. Land POEs are defined as those that accommodate pedestrian, vehicles such as cars, trucks, and buses, motorcycles, bicycles and other conveyances, or other facilities or processes that accommodate travel by train, boat, or ferry for entry into the U.S. Each POE also accommodates exit from the U.S. In-scope travelers who enter the U.S. via one mode may exit via any other mode. The primary goal is to implement the mandated biometrically verified Land Exit process with the minimum impact on travel time and processing; cost and impact on traffic; surrounding environment and communities; and expense and inconvenience to the traveler. US-VISIT is seeking information to help implement the collection of biographic and biometric data from in-scope travelers as they exit from the U.S. by any of the “land” modalities that were noted earlier in this RFI/SS. All such collection capabilities must interface to and interoperate with all existing DHS networks, infrastructure, and systems as necessary to maintain the integrity of the department’s border and immigration management system. This RFI/SS requests that responses focus on the sensing/recording/input technology, devices, and/or operational and technical processes to be used at a land exit part of a POE only. Because of the unique challenges of deploying a biometric exit identity verification solution in the land border environment, especially for multiple occupants of vehicles, land border biometric exit is being addressed separately from air and sea. Note that, for practical reasons, biometric identity verification is established by matching valid travel document(s) with biographic information and a biometric image or scan that agree with existing entries in DHS records. This RFI/SS requests that industry consider and provide suggestions to satisfy the functional needs and desired properties of biometric identity verification for Land Exit capability or technologies applicable to all “land” modes of travel. 3.0 Operational Needs The following presents a combination of characteristics that outlines the solution space for a Land Exit system, processes, components and applicable technology. The Land Exit solution is envisioned to be a combination of processes and technology specifically adapted to the land exit environment, its in-scope travelers, and, as required, system operators. Land exit may encompass multiple technologies each of which is superior in meeting a particular aspect of the Land Exit solution. This section presents operational needs as constraints, complexities, qualities, and processes that US-VISIT anticipates that the Land Exit solution will have to address and possess, as well as attain the following goals: •Provide automated capture of an “in-scope” traveler’s biographic and biometric information with limited traveler intrusiveness, safety and throughput delays. •Biometrically verify the identity manifested by biographic information on legal documents that are presented as part of the exit process. The following bullets describe steps in a notional exit process that would be executed by existing DHS capabilities: •Transmit the biographic and biometric data collected at a port for an exiting in-scope traveler to DHS systems for biometric verification of the identity •Perform biometric match operations •Record an ”in-scope” traveler’s departure from the U.S. in the existing ADIS system •Match the exit record to the traveler’s entry record in the existing ADIS system Any or all of the above may be addressed by the response to the RFI/SS as appropriate to make the solution suggested by the respondent work, or work in a way that improves the value to the Government and/or the traveler. In all cases, the response should maintain or enhance the following overall US-VISIT goals: •Enhances the security of our citizens and visitors •Facilitates legitimate travel and trade •Ensures the integrity of our immigration system •Protects the privacy of our visitors 3.1 Constraints Statute, DHS policy, or practical considerations impose the following constraints on, and preferences for, the Land Exit solution: •All data collection, usage, and storage related to Land Exit must comply with all applicable statutes, regulations, international treaties, and DHS Departmental guidance on privacy and security. •Land Exit physical infrastructure improvements and construction must comply with applicable environmental statutes and regulations. •Biometric technologies must follow applicable biometric standards as documented at www.biometrics.gov/Standards. •The Government prefers a Land Exit solution(s) that applies to all existing land POEs on the northern and southern borders of the US, but it will consider responses that describe potential solutions that are applicable to a subset of the land POEs. •Biographic and biometric data shall be collected at the time and place of exit from the U.S. or at a time and place that is, for practical purposes, virtually at the place of actual exit, such as a roadway or pedestrian facility leading to the actual border crossing point. 4.0 Solution Complexities Complexities are circumstances or facts that make the identification of a solution difficult and drive the Government’s desire for an innovative solution. The following are key complexities. 4.1 In-Scope Travelers In - scope travelers are: •Overall only a small percentage of travelers – out of the approximately 350 million land border entrants to the U.S. yearly, only about 3 percent are subject to US-VISIT procedures and data collection. Presumably, about the same number of travelers who enter via land ports will exit via land ports. •In-scope travelers are mixed with the out-of-scope travelers •A single vehicle may contain both in-scope and out-of-scope persons, and biometric exit procedures will apply only to the in-scope travelers. In -scope travelers can cross at a land POE as: •Pedestrians, •Operators of private vehicles, to include cars, trucks, buses, motor cycles, bicycles, and similar conveyances, or commercial vehicles such as cars, buses, trucks, trains, ferries, boats, ambulances, bicycles or motorcycles, or similar conveyances •Passengers in either private or commercial conveyances In-scope travelers present multiple travel profiles: •Frequent travelers •Infrequent travelers •One time/infrequent travelers •Traveler who may enter at one port and leave from another, including air, sea or land ports 4.2 Facilities There are 167 land Port of Entry facilities. Each land POE has some kind of exit infrastructure that may be as simple as a road, pedestrian path, or simple gate, or may have improvements that provide inspection booths, other structures, road modifications, more elaborate gating structures, or other controls. However, the physical characteristics of POEs vary widely and may be no more than the roadway that crosses the border, a pedestrian path, or may be an improved facility which may or may not include specific arrangements to accommodate exit processing. These facilities present a variety of complexities. Some of these complexities are: •Some POEs are extremely limited on the extent of physical changes that could be introduced due to a variety of considerations ranging from existing infrastructure that may or may not be owned or leased by the U.S. Government; historic sites and environmental considerations; weather and geographic constraints in land use; lack of utilities and/or communications; and a number of like considerations. •POE designs vary from large scale, complex facilities to simple almost rustic remote buildings. •POEs may be 24 hour/7 days per week operations while others may have defined operating hours and procedures. •POE operations and procedures are often driven by the physical layout of the POE. For example, some pedestrian exit areas have controlled turnstiles, while others have open uncontrolled outdoor areas for pedestrian exit; some vehicle exit lanes are “at speed” and others lead into toll-booth areas that are, currently, not used to conduct routine exit operations. The facilities for exit capabilities are varied. Some POEs have infrastructure such that collecting a biometric at departure is manageable. For example, extended power communications; installed roads or structures; gate houses, turnstiles, and/or in-lane vehicle inspection booths; utilities, HVAC, high-speed data communications, space for sensitive equipment, and sheltered areas for inspections. Other POEs may not provide the infrastructure listed above. Further more, border crossings may be adjacent to each other or only separated from each other by distances of only a few feet. This RFI includes in-scope travelers who exit by ferry or rail crossings because they are categorized with land crossings, distinct from the Cruise Line Industry. 4.3 Desired Qualities and Values It is requested that Industry identify potential technologies, devices, processes and/or procedures that can provide all or parts of the biometrically verified data collection system for any or all of the 167 land Ports of Entry/Exit. The following qualities are desired: •Safe:the solution imposes no potential health risks to the traveler or Inspector (if required in the context of the response), either through the use of the potential solution or an individual’s proximity to the devices associated with the potential solution and does not interfere with the duties of any operator or Inspections Officer in a manner that imposes a threat to the safety of the operator or Officer. •Secure: the solution prevents unauthorized duplication, alteration or otherwise fraudulent use of devices or tokens that interfere with the intended use of the solution to biometrically verify the identity of in-scope travelers; the data associated with the solution is captured and transmitted in a manner that it can not be intercepted or used in a way other than as intended; and the data and use of the data is structured to protect the privacy of the traveler. •Unobtrusive: the solution minimizes the actions (if any) by the traveler in the biometric collection process. •Accurate: a minimum of 100% correct biometric identification and verification of legally exiting in-scope travelers with no collection of data from out-of-scope persons. •Durable: built to withstand long periods of use, environmental exposure, both large and small volume use, resistance to mechanical damage due to dropping, misuse, moisture, etc. •Easily used by the traveler and operator, if an operator is required. •Compatible (or non-interfering with) with the existing port environment, to the maximum extent possible, including other technologies, such as those used for the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI), U.S. Canada Border Crossing Initiative (NEXUS), and Free and Secure Trade (FAST), radiation portal monitors, license plate readers, or other screening devices. •Comprehensive: applies with minimum adaptation to the population of in-scope travelers exiting the U.S. •Has minimum impact on traffic flow. •Has minimum cost to the Government and to in-scope travelers, in terms of initial, operating and maintenance costs, and in time or effort for in-scope travelers spent in the Exit process. •Has low environmental and social impact (e.g., does not increase or render objectionable traffic patterns, nor impact on historic sites, nor compromise privacy) on in-scope travelers or surrounding communities. •Provides a scalable solution/technology that can be used at both high volume Ports of Exit as well as smaller, less well developed and less frequently used ports. However, this is not to be construed to discourage responses that provide a solution that is best for specific ports or situations. •Accommodates full-scope training and testing to assure that personnel can operate the equipment/technology/process/procedure quickly, competently, safely and are able to obtain the intended results. The Government prefers but does not require a solution that is as open, compatible, and interoperable with industry standard equipment and existing DHS biometric verification capabilities, including interfaces, protocols, and practices. The Government will evaluate responses in this light. It is generally understood that openness, compatibility and interoperability mean that hardware and software easily attach to and work with commercial off-the-shelf products from other vendors without need for custom hardware or software adaptors. Software drivers that are otherwise fully compatible with operating systems, computer hardware, and communications equipment in general use in DHS systems are considered “interoperable.” Respondents are requested to highlight not-open, not-compatible, and not-interoperable aspects of their responses. 5.0 Specific Needs The following information is provided to stimulate industry responses on how these needs might be satisfied. While many of these needs are stated in a “shall” format (suggestive of a mandatory requirement), for purposes of this RFI/SS, industry is requested to respond with all appropriate or useful information, even if the information suggests an alternative requirement or standard or suggests reconsideration of the requirement as articulated herein: 1.Self identification by individuals to determine whether the traveler is “in-scope” may not be sufficiently reliable. Some assistance, indication, or screening step may be necessary to reliably and accurately apply US-VISIT processing to the category of in-scope travelers. 2.Processes, procedures, technology, or some combination of these that will enable two Objectives: a.Rapid identification of in-scope travelers who are in-scope for US-VISIT processing. b.Rapid biometric verification of the identity of in-scope travelers; usually accomplished by evaluation of the validity of (a) travel document(s) and use of a biometric modality to verify the identity that is asserted by the document. For example, biometric identity verification is done at entry by using an optical scanner to scan the machine-readable-zone (MRZ) of a valid travel document and use of finger-scans to determine whether the fingerprints of the person bearing the documents match the fingerprints of the identity on file in IDENT. 3.The Land Exit potential solution shall be applicable to and effective with all current and anticipated categories of exiting in-scope travelers within US-VISIT scope. 4.The Land Exit potential solution should be compatible across exit modalities; as a minimum, the potential solution should not interfere with devices, technologies, processes, etc. in use for other modalities. 5.US-VISIT is committed to facilitate legitimate travel and trade; accordingly, the time needed to get a usable biographic and biometric data from a traveler shall be as short as possible while also assuring that biometric verification of identity is at least 97 percent accurate. Technical, process, or procedural add-ons must not cause excessive queuing or congestion at Ports of Exit. 6.The technology described by the respondent for biometric verification of identity should not result in a false positive verification more than 0.1 percent of the time. 7.The biometric verification of identity should not result in a false negative verification more than 0.1 percent of the time. 8.Methods and mechanisms for reporting results of identity verification both to individual Ports and to DHS shall be defined in the context of the respondent’s solution. 5.1 Inputs and Outputs These are the key inputs and output that the Land Exit solution needs to provide. •INPUT: Capture biographic and biometric data from the in-scope traveler at exit from the U.S., regardless of the land mode of travel and with as little interference with or delay of travel as possible. •INPUT: Accurate collection of biometric information from in-scope travelers as they exit through a land POE. •OUTPUT: Verification or failure to verify that the biographic and biometric data presented by the traveler at the POE match with the associated DHS records. 6.0 Response Guidelines Respondents to this RFI/SS are required to provide information describing the suggested solution, technologies or products that are included in the solution, and the biometric matching processes included in the solution. Note that if the respondent’s solution is based on fingerprints, IDENT in its current form will provide the matching capability needed to verify identity. If some other biometric modality is part of the solution described, the relevant matching capability would, presumably, be added to IDENT. The respondent should describe their intent in this regard. As noted elsewhere in this document, the respondents are to assume that the Government already has capabilities for storing data that associates biometric data with biographic data, network capabilities within the POE and across DHS, and basic physical infrastructure (e.g. power, communications, buildings). However, the respondent should note special needs and facilities to accommodate their solution, especially in the context of less well developed ports and better developed ports where exit areas may be located adjacent to but many yards from the entry facility. The narrative of the description of the suggested solution should also outline how the biometric characteristic will be used for comparison at exit to biometrically verify the identity of the traveler. The narrative description should also describe how the suggested technology will capture or interoperate with biographic information to be collected at exit. 6.1 Technologies and Products Descriptive material shall be provided for each product or technology suggested by the respondent for the potential/suggested solution, including devices for initial biometric capture as the traveler enters the U.S., capture of biometric information as the traveler exits through a land POE, or comparison of biometric exit data against stored data for identity verification, and any other equipment required to enable the suggested solution. The description should include: -operational parameters, such as the distance from which biometric data can be captured, whether the biometric sample can be captured while the subject is moving, and environmental considerations such as temperature, precipitation, dust, dirt, and illumination requirements -performance parameters, such as biometric read rates (how long does data capture take, how many in-scope travelers can be processed simultaneously), factors that impact performance (such as heat, humidity, or physical barriers between the reader and the traveler), and sources of capture or comparison errors, -test reports or results that demonstrate how the performance parameters were calculated, -equipment specifications, such as size, power, communication and location requirements (e.g., outside and unprotected, office environment, computer room controlled conditions), -description of the maturity of the devices (e.g. are these devices currently in use in an operational environment, in testing, or in the conceptual or design stage), -Operations and maintenance requirements that would have an impact on large scale deployments to the full range of ports described in this RFI/SS. 6.2 Biometric Matching Processes US-VISIT currently utilizes fingerprints as the biometric modality for verifying traveler identity, and thus has extensive knowledge and existing capability in this area. IDENT, the system that provides the DHS biometric identity service, also is capable of extensions for matching on multiple biometric modalities. If the suggested solution includes the use of biometric data other than fingerprints, the respondent shall provide information to address the following: -Content of biometric data stored (e.g. image or mathematical representation of data) -Approach for comparison of biometric data -Uniqueness of biometrics captured (e.g., provide the probability that two individuals will have biometric data that are identical in a population of several hundred million, as will be contained eventually in IDENT for fingerprints) -Results provided for a comparison of biometric data (e.g. is there an absolute match/no match result, or is there a list provided of potential matches?) -Approach to resolution if automated equipment can not confirm if there is a complete match between the data captured at exit and the stored biometric data for a single individual -The algorithm that is used for the basis of comparison (e.g., is the matching based on a proprietary matching algorithm, or published biometric standards?) -Description of the maturity of the biometric matching process (i.e., is the suggested matching process currently in use in an operational environment, in testing, or in the design stage?) -Compliance with relevant capture, data formatting, compression, communication, and other standards per the information available via the www.biometrics.gov/Standards Web page. 7.0 General Guidance for Submittal The Government requests that respondents confine their response to the information requested below; elaborate bindings, illustrations, brochures, company descriptions, past experience, and other material that speaks to qualifications to perform work are not desired. Rather, all responses and all contents of responses to this RFI/SS shall be focused on the specific categories of information requested. A response shall not occupy more than 20 pages, as described in this RFI/SS. The Government will use its best efforts to respond to questions that a respondent submits in the context of this RFI/SS. Questions may be submitted via email as an additional separate document and/or CD-ROM. An email, hardcopy or CD-ROM page shall be 8.5 inches by 11 inches in size, have 1-inch margins, and shall use single spaced Helvetica or Arial font no smaller than 10 point. Electronic submissions shall have the same content as hardcopy submissions, including formatting. The respondent shall certify that electronic (i.e., CD-ROM) and printed copy are the same. The only allowed media for submission are hardcopy and CD-ROM. The respondent may submit both hardcopy and an electronic format. The Government prefers hardcopy and the electronic format as defined above. Please refer to note below with respect to malware. All electronic responses shall be free of viruses, Trojan horses, or other malware. Any submissions found to contain such may be rejected without notification by the Government. Intentional submission of malware within submitted documents may also result in legal action against the respondent. Respondents shall submit four (4) identical hardcopy documents and four (4) CD-ROMs as described above for the response to this RFI/SS. Questions may be submitted via email, as an additional separate document and/or CD-ROM in the format described above. All hardcopies and electronic media must have an attached label or cover sheet that identifies the respondent and the respondent’s contact information, title of this RFI/SS, and RFI number. 7.1 Method of Submission The summary paper should be submitted both in hardcopy (4 copies) and in electronic form (CD-ROM, four (4) copies. Electronic copies should be submitted in Microsoft Office Word 2003 format. Supporting information, e.g. brochures must be submitted in a binder that holds all such material together for each technology submitted by a respondent and also in electronic form; CD-ROM is the preferred medium for electronic submission. The Government may, at its sole discretion and at no cost to the Government, copy all or parts of your submission for the purpose of evaluating, summarizing, or compiling information. Stakeholders in the RFI/SS process will share information. The Government will use usual and customary means to safeguard proprietary information, but only when such information is (1) clearly marked as proprietary, (2) is, in fact, information that could not have been obtained from another party or source, and (3) is otherwise deserving of such treatment under standards and processes described in 6 C.F.R. 5.8. 7.2 Submission Due Dates Response to the RFI/SS must be provided not later than 3:00 P.M. (Eastern Daylight Time), July 16, 2008 to Ms. Patricia Oliver, Contracting Officer, 1616 North Fort Myer Drive, 17th Floor, Arlington, VA 22209, (202) 298-5490 or patricia.a.oliver@dhs.gov. 7.3 Next Steps US-VISIT intends to hold an Industry Briefing, prior to receipt of responses from this RFI/SS, on June 30, 2008 at 1:00 P.M. at Top of the Town, 1400 N. 14th St., Arlington, VA 22209. Please communicate your company’s intentions to attend to the Contracting Officer, Ms. Patricia Oliver, not later than 3:00 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time), May 14, 2008. Space is at a premium, and the number of participants per company is limited to two (2). 8.0Acquisition Potential US-VISIT may issue a solicitation, as early as the 2nd quarter of fiscal year 2009, to address the Government needs described in this document (or comparable needs). Sources identified through this RFI/SS process will be solicited, as well as others. Deliverables would likely include system design, development, integration and deployment services as well as delivery of equipment, labor and materials for integration with existing systems, and follow on operations and maintenance services. US-VISIT will require that any equipment performance be demonstrated and proven through actual tests as a part of the DHS Enterprise Life Cycle Management process. 9.0Other Information Interested parties are advised that US-VISIT and DHS Office of Procurement Operations are under no obligation to take any further action with any party as a result of this RFI/SS. Summary reports supplied in response to the RFI/SS will be made available to all US-VISIT stakeholders. Accompanying information and descriptive literature may also be made available to US-VISIT stakeholders. With the exception of the summary sheets, any other information that interested parties do not want disclosed to all US-VISIT stakeholders should be identified as such. Information that interested parties do not want disclosed will be retained exclusively for the use of US-VISIT and DHS OPO. A list of attendees will be disclosed to all participants.
Web Link: FedBizOpps Complete View
(https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=e20f207ca48d27d7ed2bf9cf3455b8c4&tab=core&_cview=1)
Place of Performance: Address: See paragraph 7.0 for specific detailed information regarding Industry Day and submission of the requested response to this RFI., United States
Record: SN01564688-W 20080503/080501215635-e20f207ca48d27d7ed2bf9cf3455b8c4 (fbodaily.com)
Source: FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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Loren Data's SAM Daily™

D -- Biometric Land Exit Solution