Sole Source - Bi2 Technologies, LLC

Background
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued a sole source award to BI2 Technologies, LLC for iris biometric recognition technology aimed at enhancing offender recognition and providing access to a biometric information system. This technology enables ICE agents to quickly authenticate the identity of subjects during field operations. The award is justified under the Revolutionary Overhaul, citing the need for devices and licenses that are identical to those previously purchased to ensure interoperability with existing equipment.

Work Details
ICE requires an additional 1,570 iris biometric recognition technology devices that must meet specific criteria:
- Must be certified by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).
- Must provide real-time identification and matching capabilities in the field on both fixed and mobile devices.
- Must capture and identify fingerprints, iris scans, and facial images within a single device.
- Must be compatible with agnostic platforms including Microsoft, Apple, and Android.
- Must allow immediate access to booking records across the United States via a secure, encrypted national criminal justice data sharing network.
- Must utilize advanced iris biometric technology for rapid identity authentication.

Bidder Requirements
The justification states that only BI2 Technologies can fulfill this requirement due to their proprietary solutions: I.R.I.S.™ (the only secure national criminal justice data sharing network based on iris recognition) and MORIS™ (a mobile offender recognition system). No other products are compatible with ICE's existing systems, ensuring that only BI2 Technologies can meet these unique operational needs.

Incumbent Analysis (see Incumbents section for more detail)
This sole-source effort for iris biometric recognition technology appears to have a confirmed incumbent, BI2 Technologies, based on the prior contract 70CTD025C00000001 awarded for similar ICE needs. The prior award (value $4,575,000; 09/24/25–09/23/26) is described as providing iris biometric recognition for offender recognition and access to a biometric information system to support rapid identity authentication during field operations. The current requirement’s focus on additional iris devices and interoperability with ICE’s existing biometric environment suggests continuity of the same operational capability rather than a materially different solution.