Request for Information: iOS Compatible Biometrics Devices for Biometrics at Sea System

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a questionnaire designed to gather information from interested parties regarding their capabilities and interest in a potential requirement. It serves as a Request for Information (RFI) to help the government understand market capabilities and inform future acquisition strategies.

• Interest & Capability Assessment: Questions about whether a company would submit a quote, if they provide the service/product commercially, and their capability to perform all required services as outlined in a capability needs statement.
• Experience: Inquiries into similar or previous experience with the type of work.
• Contract Vehicles & NAICS Codes: Requests for applicable contract vehicles and appropriate NAICS codes.
• Business Information: Questions regarding business size and applicable socio-economic categories.
• Subcontracting & Lead Time: Estimates on subcontracting needs and required lead time from award to performance start.
• Technical & Product Details: Specific questions related to Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) dates (End of Extended Support, End of Life, End of Sales, End of Support), product deployment within DoD or Federal Civilian agencies, and specific technical capabilities such as iOS compatibility, connectivity (Ares Gateway, Microsoft Intune, WiFi, Cellular), power interfaces, data export methods, device portability, battery life, anti-tamper mechanisms, biometric standards compliance (FBI NGI, OBIM IDENT, HART), GPS, ruggedization (MIL-STD-810G), auditability, FIPS-140-2 compliance, biometric record generation (ANSI/NIST-ITL), EBTS/IXM message formatting, biometric sensor certifications (FBI Appendix F), quality score handling, and specific biometric data collection capabilities (DoD EBTS 4.1, Iris, Fingerprints, Facial Images).
• Feedback & Documentation: Optional feedback section and a request for a capability website URL and a detailed Capabilities Statement including up to 3 relevant projects with specific client and contract details.
• Response Time: Estimation of realistic response time for RFQ preparation.

This questionnaire helps potential bidders assess their alignment with the potential requirement, provide crucial market intelligence to the government, and highlight their company's specific capabilities and experience. Responding to these questions can influence the final acquisition strategy and requirements. It also prompts bidders to consider and document key technical specifications of their offerings, particularly concerning biometric data collection and device capabilities.

Other / Unclassified

This document is a Capability Needs Statement (CNS) for the U.S. Coast Guard's Biometrics at Sea System (BASS) program, dated January 2026. It outlines the operational context, capability needs, performance attributes, interoperability requirements, and requirements management processes for BASS.

This document serves as a foundational statement of the Coast Guard's needs for a biometric system to be used in maritime law enforcement operations. It details:

• Operational Context: The challenges of operating in dynamic, disconnected, intermittent, and low-bandwidth (DIL) maritime environments, and the threats BASS aims to address (e.g., narcotics trafficking, terrorism, human trafficking).
• Operational Use Cases: Specific scenarios where the BASS device would be used, such as boarding vessels, verifying identities, submitting biometric data to authoritative repositories, and receiving encounter check results.
• Capabilities Needed: Key functional areas including:
  • On-Scene Identity Verification and Enrollment: Rapid collection of biometric data (fingerprints, iris, facial), local watchlist screening, querying national/international databases, and seamless enrollment.
  • Seamless and Assured Data Exchange: Reliable and secure transmission of data regardless of connectivity, with confirmation of receipt and processing.
  • Mission-Ready Operational Capability: Portability, ruggedness to withstand maritime conditions, extended battery life, and comprehensive operator training.
• Performance Attributes: Specific performance measures and target states for the system, such as ruggedness (MIL Std 810), weight (less than 5 lbs), battery life (4 hours with hot swap), and data return times (within 180 seconds).
• Interoperability: Requirements for integration with existing systems and authoritative databases (FBI, DHS, Intelligence Community).

This CNS provides potential bidders with insight into the U.S. Coast Guard's requirements and vision for a future biometric system, guiding them on the capabilities and performance characteristics that will be sought in future solicitations.