Army invites industry to demonstrate COTS tactical biometrics technology
ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md., 2 July 2013. U.S. Army biometrics experts are inviting companies and colleges that have developed tactical biometric devices to participate in field demonstrations to determine the effectiveness of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) tactical biometric collection devices for use on the battlefield.
The Army Communications-Electronic Research, Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC), Intelligence and Information Warfare Directorate (I2WD) released a solicitation last week (W15P7T13RA055) for the Tactical Biometric Device Technology Demonstration.
Demonstrations are scheduled for 29 July to 23 Aug. 2013 at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. Further information on tests and schedules will be available at an army industry day scheduled the week of 15 July 2013.
The Army CERDEC I2WD organization is conducting the COTS biometrics technology demonstrations on behalf of the Army's Principal Staff Assistant for Biometrics, the Defense Biometrics and Forensics Office, and the Pentagon's Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO).
U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) officials are looking for the ability to collect biometric and contextual information in a tactical environment. Biometrics refers to the identification of humans by their characteristics or traits, such as by facial, iris, and retinal identification, or fingerprints.
Although several military programs are developing biometrics systems for the battlefield, DOD officials are trying to find tactical biometrics technology they can buy off the shelf to save time and money.
Industry demonstrations will include documentation review, source code review, hardware and software testing, functional and operational testing, and accuracy testing. A detailed test plan will be revealed to industry and academia at an industry day the week of 15 July 2013.
Participants must identify in their response by the type of tactical biometric devices along with quantities, associated software, and documentation.
Companies, colleges, or other organizations that would like to demonstrate their COTS tactical biometrics technology should email the Army at [email protected] no later than 12 July 2013. Put Tactical Biometric Device Technology Demonstration RFI in the subject line.
For questions or concerns phone the Army's Dana Nunley at 443-861-4683. More information is online at https://www.fbo.gov/notices/a800cfbd16db2a064554d27b1b5a6e8d.
