Army announces winners of $497 million biometrics contract

The Army has awarded a massive biometric technology and support services contract to 12 companies.

The indefinite delivery-indefinite quantity multiple award agreement has a ceiling of $497 million and a three-year base period and two one-year options, according to a notice posted on the Federal Business Opportunities Web site in December. Each recipient is guaranteed a minimum of $3,000 in work.

The service's Biometric Task Force awarded the contract to: American Systems Corp. of Chantilly, Va.; Booz Allen Hamilton of McLean, Va.; CACI of Arlington, Va.; Cogent Systems of Pasadena, Calif.; Computer Sciences Corp. of Falls Church, Va.; Electronic Data Systems of Plano, Texas; Ideal Innovations Inc. of Arlington, Va.; Lockheed Martin Corp. of Bethesda, Md.; Los Angeles-based Northrop Grumman Corp.; Raytheon Co. of Waltham, Mass.; San Diego-based SAIC Corp.; and Telos Corp. of Ashburn, Va.

The companies will provide consulting, technological and scientific services, according to an Army spokeswoman. "Additionally, it is hoped that this funding will provide for expanding these services and exploring new avenues for the use of biometrics," she said.

Bob Kocher, president and chief executive officer of Ideal Innovations, said his company has been working closely with the Defense Department on biometrics since 1999 and currently assists with biometric data collection in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Right now we have people who work with the Biometric Task Force and almost 100 people in Iraq and Afghanistan working on forensics, biometrics and identity management systems," Kocher said. "It's an up-and-coming area."

The task force is developing a database of biometric information collected from enemy combatants, terrorists and other foreign nationals viewed as potentially hostile. Non-Americans applying for jobs with the service in foreign nations must submit biometric information, which is entered into the database as part of the background check process. Kocher said Ideal Innovations focuses on collecting and storing fingerprints, DNA and other biometric evidence.

The military is responsible for determining how the data will be used and analyzing it.

"In this world of terrorism, law enforcement tools are really what the military has to use," Kocher said.

Historically, Defense has awarded much of its biometric work through sole-source contracts or integrated it into other contracting vehicles, many of which are set to expire soon, he said. The new contract will provide a single vehicle where Defense agencies looking to purchase biometrics can go to issue task orders and receive multiple bids.

"What this tends to do is put together a portfolio of companies that can do this work," Kocher said. "It opens up a more competitive field."