FBI’s Next Generation Biometric System To Be Developed By Lockheed Martin
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently awarded Lockheed Martin a 10-year, $1 billion contract to develop and maintain the Bureau's Next Generation Identification (NGI) system, a multi-modal, state-of-the-art biometrics system for use by state, local and federal authorities.
"We were proud to collaborate with the FBI on the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System, the largest system in the world of its type," said Judy Marks, president, Lockheed Martin Transportation and Security Solutions. "We're tremendously pleased to partner with the agency once again to deliver the next quantum leap in capability."
The NGI system will expand fingerprint capacity, doubling the size of the current database, and will now also include palm prints, iris and facial recognition capabilities. Additionally, the system requires a significant degree of technical flexibility in order to accommodate other biometric modalities that may mature and become important to law enforcement efforts in the future.
"Together, our team brought to bear all the elements the FBI required," said Carlaine Blizzard, vice president of Secure Enterprise Solutions, Lockheed Martin Transportation and Security Solutions. "We offered the Bureau vitally important flexibility -- particularly as the agency's mission has expanded beyond traditional law enforcement to include counter-terrorism efforts."
The Lockheed Martin-led team includes Accenture, BAE Systems Information Technology Inc., Global Science & Technology (GST), Innovative Management & Technology Services (IMTS), Platinum Solutions and the National Center for State Courts (NCSC).
Lockheed Martin will provide program management and oversight as well as biometric and large systems development and integration expertise. Accenture's responsibilities will include interoperability and change management; BAE Systems Information Technology will work on external interface requirements engineering, as well as security design.
GST and IMTS, both West Virginia small businesses with a long history of working with Lockheed Martin on the IAFIS program, will provide important program continuity in addition to systems engineering. Platinum Solutions and the NCSC each offer the team key niche capabilities. Platinum Solutions is currently working with the FBI Laboratory on related technologies. NCSC will help shape and oversee the privacy considerations for the program; it will also provide guidance on interfacing with state court systems.
In May of last year, Lockheed Martin opened the Biometric Experimentation and Advanced Concepts (BEACON) center in White Hall, W.V., to serve as a collaborative center in the development of integrated biometrics solutions for both current and future initiatives. In addition to other programs, the center will support the FBI and the NGI program.