Afternoon,

The team I am supporting has completed initial market survey for biometric software platforms. And now I am being asked to deliver examples of funding roadmaps to acquire --> field test --> evaluate --> procure at a later date. Here are my findings thus far -

1. SBIR/STTR

   1. this requires the company to propose a solution based on a topic that has been rolled out. Nothing for the customer to do from my perspective.

2. Coalition Warfare Program (CWP)

   1. Requires a foreign government defense partner(s) to be equally committed to manage and execute the project.

3. Technology Maturation Initiative

   1. Provides funding to support the demonstration of relatively mature technologies in relevant environments and operational scenarios.

4. International Cooperative Research and Development (ICR&D)

   1. Can't find much on this. Would help if someone knows a POC email.

5. Physical Security Enterprise & Analysis Group (PSEAG)

   1. Same as #4. Can't locate a POC email.

6. 10 USC 4023 (PEP)

   1. I feel this is the best alternative to procure a few of the products to field test and evaluate.

7. Middle Tier Acquisition (MTA)

   1. Does anyone have experience with this?

Any and all feedback is appreciated. If I am on the right track or am missing a funding source. Thanks.

Dave

This may be so obvious as to have been unstated, but....outside of DoD, civilian agencies like mine routinely purchase both commercial and non-commercial biometric products and services, especially DHS and FBI. Biometrics are available via GSA, particularly under Security and Protection. So straight FAR based methods like Part 35 R&D or the usual suspects - FAR 8.4/12/13/15/16.505?

@dave2025 We need more information on what the biometric product is about? Will it just be another tool similar to what General.Zhukov described that agencies already are buying or something much more advanced? What will it do?

On 9/24/2025 at 9:48 AM, dave2025 said:

And now I am being asked to deliver examples of funding roadmaps to acquire --> field test --> evaluate --> procure at a later date.

What do you mean by "funding roadmap"?

Hey Vern,

sorry for the confusion.

funding roadmap = are we able to use PSEAG, TMI, and/or ICR&D programs to acquire the product(s) to test and evaluate in the field? If so, how would we go about utilizing the programs?

does this help? hopefully, but maybe not.

@formerfed specific focus was given to Electronic Biometric Transmission Specification (EBTS) format to support and DoD Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) integration.

Some of the products surveyed -

1. NEC NeoFace Watch

2. Oosto OnWatch

3. Cognitec FaceVACS

4. Paravision

5. Corsight AI

6. FaceFirst, etc.

@dave2025 Thanks for the info. This all seems like things APG, DARPA, CBP with State, and a couple Intelligent agencies are interested in. I think you are on track generally with 10 USC 4023 (PEP). But often funding comes from a variety of sources and projects use a pool of money from multiple contributing sources. Can you have some preliminary conversations maybe starting with a white paper to explore vehicles? The type of money often impacts what approaches are available.

@formerfed yup PEP seems the best route, but I was told to assume there are no funds or they are underfunded. But with the products surveyed they are at Tech Readiness Levels (TRL) at 5 or higher which makes them unsuitable for SBIR/STTR programs.

So as stated either PEP or perhaps Rapid Fielding via MTA is best route.

Meeting today to present my findings and decide on path forward.

Evening,

So I found out that the requirement is for software only. So now I am going down the path of Software Acquisition Pathway (SWP).

Dave