Home Office Biometric Matcher Platform & Services

The Contracting Authority intends to procure a Biometric Matcher Platform & associated Services (BMPS) to deliver biometric search and verification capabilities across multiple biometric modalities and for multiple data sets (immigration, citizenship, law enforcement etc) as part of the Home Office Biometrics (HOB) programme. Separate lots will be used to procure the Matcher Service Supplier, a standard (minutiae based) Matcher Engine Software Supplier and an orthogonal (non-minutiae based) Matcher Engine Software Supplier. The contracts will be for an initial term of five (5) years with an option to extend by a further two (2) years and then one (1) year (i.e. 8 years altogether) Biometric Matcher Platform & Services (BMPS) Overview The BMPS as a key sub-system will provide matching services to the wider Biometrics Services Platform. The BMPS will split into two: • Matcher Service Bus - containing the biometric transaction processing logic, workflow rules, integration of Matcher Engine Software deployments and presentation of a Matcher Service interface to service requestors. • Matcher Engine Software - a combination of algorithm software and associated components deployed as "Matcher Engines" that provide the biometric matching capability to the Matcher Service Bus.

Further details of the three (3) Lots supporting the components described are: Lot 1 - Matcher Service Supplier (MSS):-

Lot 2 Biometric Matching Engine Software (BMES) (minutiae based) Supplier(s)

Lot 3 Biometric Matching Engine Software (non-minutiae based) Supplier(s)

All personnel involved in the design, delivery and testing of the solution must hold security clearances (SC) from the Home Office and Police Service and depending on the role and level of access to live systems and data may also require Non Police Personnel Vetting- Level 3.

The Contracting Authority requires that security clearances be applied for at the earliest opportunity. Please see additional information

Currently the planned date of dispatch of an OJEU notice is Q2 2017 Estimated costs excluding VAT are: Lot 1: 5 year 13,300,000 8 year 17,600,000 Lot 2: 5 year 10,800,000 8 year 16,200,000 Lot 3: 5 year 500,000 8 year 800,000 Currency: UK Pounds Sterling Information about Lots This Contract is divided into Lots: Yes The authority intends in this procurement for the Strategic Matcher Service that the MSS will be independent from the BMES provider(s), and separate in Lots accordingly, such that. • The legal entity leading a Lot 1 bid or a subcontractor in a bid for Lot 1 cannot bid as the legal entity leading (or a subcontractor in) a bid for either of Lots 2 or 3. • A legal entity leading a bid can win any or both of Lots 2 and 3 by bidding for each of those Lots separately and winning that Lot on the merits of that bid.

Additional information: This procurement will be managed electronically via the Crown Commercial Service's eSourcing Suite. Prospective suppliers interested in participating in this procurement should follow the following process: 1) Each supplier must first register their Company and primary contact/s (if not already registered) on the CCS eSourcing Suite. Please see the section below titled- How to register on the CCS eSourcing Suite. 2) Following registration onto the CCS eSourcing Suite, email the project team at [email protected] to register interest and confirm the details of its primary contact(s) (maximum of 3 contacts) as soon as possible. 3) A Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and Security Clearance instructions pack will then be issued via email or through the eSourcing Suite by the project team. 4) A signed copy of the NDA should be returned to the project team electronically at [email protected] by each interested supplier in order to participate in the procurement. 5) In preparation for its intended release of a OJEU Contract Notice the Authority may create a virtual data room containing a wide range of information and supporting documentation to assist suppliers in preparation for their ITT responses. Information classified OFFICIAL will be available through the virtual data room accessible through the e-sourcing portal. Information classified OFFICIAL SENSITIVE will be made available at a London location of the Contracting Authority, where suppliers SC cleared personnel can visit by prior appointment. 6) Please note that, up to the date of release of an OJEU notice the Contracting Authority reserves the right to not enter into a procurement exercise. How to register on the CCS eSourcing Suite:

This can be done online at https://gpsesourcing.cabinetoffice.gov.uk by following the link 'Register for CCS eSourcing'. Please note that, to register, you must have a valid DUNS number (as provided by Dun and Bradstreet) for the organisation which you are registering, who will be entering into a contract if invited to do so. Full instructions for registration and use of the system can be found at: https://ccs.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/i-am-supplier/respond-tender For technical assistance on use of the eSourcing Suite please contact Crown Commercial Service Helpdesk : Freephone: 0345 010 3503

Award Criteria: Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) MSS and MES Suppliers will be expected to carry out BAT with the Authority prior to submitting a response to the ITT. The test results from this BAT exercise will form part of the evaluation criteria. Duration of the contract: initial term of five (5) years with an option to extend by a further two (2) years and then one (1) year (i.e. 8 years altogether). Variants will NOT be accepted.