Just when biometrics security company Identix Inc.’s journey to a blanket purchase agreement (BPA) with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) seemed complete, another roadblock has appeared in the form of another complaint by an unnamed company that had lost the BPA bid to Identix.
The DHS reaffirmed on March 12 its previous decision to award the five-year BPA for 10-print scan fingerprint booking stations and desktop systems to Identix, rejecting a complaint filed in October by a company that competed with Identix for the contract. That same company has now filed a second complaint and, once again, the DHS has placed a stop work order on the Identix contract, valued at $27 million. Identix won the contract on Sept. 30.
“While we are frustrated with further delays in the process, we strongly believe that the BPA award to Identix will once again, for the third time, be reaffirmed,” says Identix President and CEO Joseph Atick. “We are disappointed that this unsuccessful bidder is attempting, yet again, to delay urgent and critical procurements of products and services by the government that are intended to, among other things, enhance the security of our borders and nation.”
Identix had been selected by the DHS to provide its TouchPrint® 3000 line fingerprint biometric live scan booking stations and desktop systems to the Citizenship and Immigration Services, as well as to other departments within the DHS.
