FBI seeks industry input on biometric algorithms for NGI modernization The scale of the system is one of the most important details in the notice The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is surveying the biometrics industry for commercially available algorithms that could support or replace key matching capabilities within the bureau’s Next Generation Identification (NGI) system, one of the largest government repositories of biometric and criminal history information in the world. The Request for Information (RFI), issued by the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) division in Clarksburg, West Virginia, provides a detailed view of the bureau’s continuing effort to assess new biometric matching technology for fingerprints, latent prints, facial recognition, iris recognition, and tattoo recognition, as well as the systems needed to transition and maintain these capabilities inside FBI-approved cloud environments. CJIS operates NGI as a central biometric and criminal history platform used by federal, state, local, tribal and territorial law enforcement partners. The FBI says it is looking to scientific advances to improve the “range and quality” of its identification and investigative capabilities. For biometric vendors, the notice is an early signal that National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)-tested performance, secure domestic software handling, GovCloud deployment, FedRAMP High compliance, and the ability to manage massive biometric repositories will be central to any future FBI consideration. The RFI is the third in a series of FBI market research notices focused on biometric matching algorithms. This latest notice asks vendors to provide information on ownership structure, secure software build facilities, algorithm capabilities, transition plans, scalability, software maintenance, licensing, response times, and accuracy. A key threshold requirement is participation in National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) biometric testing. The FBI says published NIST results will be required for all vendors interested in supplying biometric algorithms to the bureau. A