USSOCOM SRSE SSE Biometrics Request for Information

This Request for Information (RFI) is not a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, quotations or obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services, but for planning purposes only. This RFI is to gain knowledge of potential qualified sources and to explore industry capabilities. Your response to this RFI will be treated as information only. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the government will arise as a result of contractor submission to this announcement or the Government use of such information. The information provided may be used by the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) in developing its acquisition strategy, statement of work/statement of objectives, and performance specifications. Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary or competition sensitive information contained in their response. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI or to otherwise pay for the information submitted in response to this RFI. Responses to this RFI will be used by the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Special Operations Force Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (SOF AT&L), the Program Executive Office - Special Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Exploitation (PEO - SRSE), specifically the Program Manager - Sensitive Site Exploitation (PM-SSE) to identify potential commercial off-the-shelf technologies for participation in the evaluation of mass biometrics enrollment including the collection and on-board storage of a subject's facial photograph, iris, and fingerprints. The capability/methodology should include the potential for the transfer of the information in a DoD Electronic Biometric Transaction (EBTS) file format to an onboard or centralized government database. A Limited User Assessment is tentatively scheduled for July 2019 in Tampa, FL. All hardware/equipment submitted for the evaluation shall be production models and capable of performing specific core missions tasks conducted by Special Operations Forces in a non-tactical environment for biometric collection and identification of personnel. While un-released commercial devices that meet the majority of the capabilities listed in Attachment 1 are allowed, the expectation is that all devices will be final product versions, easy to produce and cost compatible with existing devices fielded to SOF and meet the capabilities detailed in the Attachment 1 Evaluation Criteria / Requirements and Use Case Scenario. The event will consist of a limited user evaluation to evaluate training, determine usability and suitability for SOF operators in a non-tactical (office or forward operating base) environment. A follow-on technical assessment to confirm the quality and accuracy of device performance and output may be necessary at the discretion of the government. The preliminary schedule of events (subject to change) is as follows: NLT 6 May 2019 - Interested Manufacturer's/Vendor respond to this RFI. Responses should be submitted directly through the USSOCOM Technology, Industry, Liaison Office (TILO) portal not through the FEDBIZOPS web page and must include: - identification of the Manufacturer's/Vendor primary point(s) of contact with phone and e-mail information, - proposed existing or near term devices meeting TBE 19-2 guidelines as described in this RFI, - availability between 28 and 30 May to meet with the TILO and other USSOCOM representatives in Tampa to demonstrate a production device. Please contact the TILO office through the TILO Portal; to coordinate information submittal and request specific briefing dates and times. 28-30 May 2019 - TILO presentations. Manufacturers/Vendors meet with USSOCOM representatives and demonstrate the equipment's capabilities of interest. TILO presentations will be conducted at the National Forensic Science Technology Center (NFSTC), 8285 Bryan Dairy Road Largo, FL. Specific coordination information will be provided if TILO briefing dates/time are scheduled. NLT 5 June 2019 - Invitations to select Manufacturers/Vendors to participate in the Tactical Biometrics Event (TBE) 19-2. Selected Manufacturers/Vendors will be asked to provide equipment for use during evaluation, train USSOCOM evaluators, and sign Vendor Loan Agreements (VLAs) for evaluation articles. While HQ USSOCOM will provide feedback to all Manufacturers/Vendors who participated in the TILO presentations, only those devices that USSOCOM judges to have the best potential to meet the Attachment 1 requirements will be invited to participate in the event. NLT 12 June 2019 - Manufacturer/Vendors accept invitations. Deadline for Manufacturers/Vendors to notify USSOCOM SOF AT&L PEO-SRSE-PM-SSE of their intent to participate in the TBE and return the completed VLAs for their devices and any associated items. Manufacturers/Vendors also provide necessary technical information to support USSOCOM's safety review process and Technical Evaluation. NLT 28 June 2019 - Manufacturers/Vendors deliver (on-loan) fully functional devices and associated items for technical evaluation. 15-19 July 2019 Tactical Biometrics Event 19-2 / Limited User Assessment. USSOCOM operator evaluators and SMEs conduct the Tactical Biometrics Event 19-2 / Limited User Assessment to determine device usability and suitability. 15-16 July 2019 Manufacturers/Vendors train USSOCOM operator evaluators and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) on the use of their device(s) to support technical evaluation of their device(s). Training will be limited to four hours per device and must include proper use of the device and troubleshooting. Vendors will be expected to train the USSOCOM evaluators and SMEs to the point where the evaluators and SME can confirm expected levels of performance. Training will be conducted on-site at the National Forensic Science Technology Center (NFSTC). 17-19 July 2019 USSOCOM and the Joint Interoperability Test Command (JITC) conduct operator-driven tasks to evaluate devices. Manufacturers/Vendors will not participate in the actual test events, but may be asked to address questions or issues by phone or e-mail during the evaluation. NLT 26 July 2019 - All Manufacturer/Vendor equipment returned. Once the information is received, USSOCOM may publish a synopsis requesting further information and industry comments on a refined set of requirements along with a draft acquisition strategy and milestone schedule. Questions outside of the instructions above should be submitted to the Test Director, Mr. Charles A. Colletti at, contact@example.gov with information copies to Mr Nicholas Anderson at contact@example.gov This announcement is a request for information/comment only and does not constitute a Request for Proposals (RFP). An RFP may be posted on FedBizOpps at some future time. However, the Government does not guarantee any action beyond this RFI. Introduction: USSOCOM is conducting an evaluation of collection capabilities/devices for the full spectrum of biometrics collection including but not limited to iris, fingerprint, palm print, facial and voice capture capabilities. The event will focus on biometrics capture equipment to be used by the operator in a field environment on the objective or during mass enrollments of personnel. Production ready models must be stand-alone and can be either handheld or desk-top devices. This evaluation will assess the accuracy of vendor provided devices that meet or exceed the capabilities required for an operator's immediate use on the objective or during mass enrollments for the biometric collection, capture, storage, and transmission of collected data. The capability areas of interest include, but are not limited to: (1) Collection by operators for mass biometrics enrollment in a non-tactical environment (i.e., an office or Forward Operating Base). (2) Onboard watch list matching with a capability for the storage and transmission of data by CD ROM or hardwire to servers for submission to national databases for matching and/or enrollment. Training Requirements: Requirement 1: Conduct training to a basic level of proficiency within four hours to operators. This includes set-up, basic operations, troubleshooting and maintenance. Requirement 2: The operator level interface should be intuitive, guided by onboard operating aids or wizards. Ease of Use: Requirement 1: The device is intuitive and guided by onboard operating aids or wizards where necessary. Evaluation Methodology / Use Case Scenarios: Operator Use Case Scenario / Mass Enrollment (Live): In an office / forward operating / training base environment , while employing onboard or local power and using base communications under daylight or equivalent conditions with cooperative subjects meet a standard of enrolling more than 15 subjects per 20 minute encounter. Evaluation Criteria: a. Collect palm prints and fingerprints IAW DoD EBTS version 2.0. (EBTS version 3.0 desired) b. Collect two irises IAW DoD EBTS version 2.0. (EBTS version 3.0 desired) c. Collect facial image IAW DoD EBTS version 2.0. (EBTS version 3.0 desired) e. Simultaneously collect prints, irises and face (desired capability) f. Produce an EBTS version 2.0 compliant digital file. (EBTS version 3.0 desired) g. Maintain a multi-modal onboard database. h. Export EBTS files to an external database in an EFT format. i. Ensure a six hour operating usage life within a 24 hour period before recharging. j. Ability to operate while the device battery is recharging.