A possible $889 million contract has been considered for some time. The contract was to offer biometric capture services for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. That contract has been won by U.S. Investigations Services’ Professional Services Division Inc. (USIS PSD). The Homeland Security Department’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services offered the one-year contract, which also has four one-year options. If the contract lasts five years, the company stands to earn $889 million. The contract has no definite quantity specified, and no definitive delivery.
USIS PSD will be able to provide the Homeland Security Department’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services biometric capture services at over 130 application support centers across the country. The services will be used to process U.S. citizenship applications and immigration benefits applications.
According to USIS PSD representative Michael Roberts, USIS PSD will offer its services to help the USCIS improve its processes and safeguard US security. The road to the contract was not an easy one. Serco Inc. originally filed a protest with the U.S. Government Accountability Office over the contract, alleging that the capabilities of USIS PSD had not been carefully considered. The U.S. Government Accountability Office launched an investigation and concluded that USIS PSD had the resources to honor the contract.
U.S. Investigations Services’ Professional Services Division Inc. will likely perform a range of services for the USCIS, including collecting photographs, digital fingerprints, passport scans, driver’s license scans, signatures, and other biometrics data from applicants. This information is used by the USCIS to determine qualifications for immigration benefits. The data is also used to conduct criminal background checks, which are required for the processing of many immigration benefits.
U.S. Investigations Services is the largest commercial company offering information services, background checks, security services, and investigations to the federal government of the US. The company offers its services across the country and has more than 6000 workers. Headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, the company was established in 1996.