The FBI published a Request for Proposals on May 14 for access to automated license plate reader (ALPR) data covering the entire United States, including Guam, Puerto Rico, and tribal lands [1].
The contract will be awarded by the FBI Directorate of Intelligence and aims to provide near real-time querying capabilities by license plate, vehicle description, time, date, and geolocation across major highways and various locations nationwide [2, 1]. The agency said it needs "a diverse and reliable range of collections across the United States" for use by law enforcement [2].
The FBI seeks coverage in all 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii, as well as US territories and outlying areas [2]. The system must cover at least 75% of locations in the country [1]. Contractors will be required to provide maps that outline camera coverage and specify data sources, such as red-light cameras or repossession vendors [1].
The FBI plans to award one contract if possible, or up to two vendors if a single provider cannot meet all geographic requirements [2]. The budget is approximately $6 million per geographic area, adding to a total of about $36 million for nationwide coverage [2].
The bureau said it requires "professional service firms that can provide License Plate Readers for tracking subjects on roads and highways over the US and its territories" to assist in evaluating and managing threats to safety and property [1]. The contractor’s system must have the ability to access and query surveillance cameras across states and territories and deliver data in near real time [1].
This contract effort reflects the FBI’s focus on enhancing its ability to track vehicles and subjects nationwide. The next step will be vendor proposals and contract awards following the solicitation issued mid-May [1].
