70 -- Optical Reader/Writers

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) intends to procure approximately 1000 Optical Stripe Reader/Writers and Biometrics Verification Systems for deployment to the ports of entry. These systems will enable the DHS to read, and authenticate the biometrics encoded in the optical stripe of the Border Crossing Card (BCC) and display the encoded data of the Permanent Resident Card (PRC). The offeror(s) selected must be able to provide an initial deployment of 200 units of the required hardware and software to DHS by no later than 30 days of the award. The remaining 800 units shall be delivered in increments of 200 or more per month thereafter until delivery is complete. The reader/writers and verification systems must run on existing DHS platforms (Dell 2.26 Ghz Pentium 4 or similar workstations) using Windows 2000, with Universal Serial Bus (USB) Port and a Cross Match fingerprint capture device. Software and peripherals cannot interrupt other peripheral devices, which currently reside on the workstations. The viability/efficacy of these reader/writers will ultimately be determined through DHS tests conducted at ICE Headquarters. The Optical Reader/Writers and Biometrics Verification Systems must read the BCC and other legacy INS optical stripe card stock as rapidly as possible, systems will be evaluated for time, and be able to record data onto the optical stripe portion of the card. Systems must rapidly authenticate the biometrics of the BCC and presenter and display the results, identify expired, fraudulent, and counterfeit documents. The system shall display transactions and verifications in a user-friendly format, and store images and information obtained from scanning the PRC and BCC to include the card presenter. Systems must indicate when the system has made the biometrics match and identify or has encountered an impostor. The systems must be able to write onto the optical stripe and display such notes, when present, upon initial read and be available to print comparison images of the fingerprints, photos, and signatures of documents and candidate in both color and black and white. The Optical Reader/Writers and Biometrics Verification Systems shall be robust systems, which operate in several climatic and inspectional environments, and under extreme use. The DHS requires a reader/writer, software and required peripheral with the ability to make biometrics verification. Most BCCs have two Cogent® minutiae encoded on the optical stripe portion of the card. If a positive match is not accomplished on the first finger searched, the system should read the other minutia on the card and make a comparison and results should be displayed on the screen. The DHS will select a source or sources that offer the best value, price and other factors considered. The DHS reserves the right to award a contract to one or more sources. Interested vendors capable of meeting these requirements shall formally express their interest, request copies of the formal solicitation from DHS, and provide marketing information to DHS regarding their respective readers/writers (not to exceed 20 pages) to the undersigned contract specialist by May 5, 2003. Interested vendors must identify whether or not they hold current Federal Supply Schedule contracts with the General Services Administration (GSA), and specify the pertinent Schedules and contract numbers under which their reader/writers may be procured. Responses to this announcement are not offers and cannot be accepted to form a binding contract. No cost data should be submitted, except in accordance with the solicitation which is available from the contract specialist named below. Materials submitted will not be returned to the senders. All expressions of interests, requests for copies of the solicitation, marketing information, and inquiries along with a valid E-mail address shall be directed to DHS contract specialist, Joseph Spencer, Room 2208, Chester A. Arthur Building, Headquarters Procurement Division, Department of Homeland Security, 425 I Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. or by E-Mail at [email protected].