US Spends Big on ID Management Infrastructure

The US government has recently awarded a substantial three-year contract, worth $386.3 million, to General Dynamics, a leading defence contractor, for the operation of its biometric ID management infrastructure.

The contract, secured through a sole bid by General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT), also entrusts the company with managing the IT infrastructure for the Department of Homeland Security’s Data Centre 1.

Under the Alliant 2 contract vehicle, General Dynamics will oversee the operation and maintenance of the Office of Biometric Identity Management (OBIM). OBIM is actively involved in replacing the existing Automated Biometric Identification System with the Homeland Advanced Recognition Technology system. However, this ambitious project is currently facing delays, impacting its implementation timeline.

The OBIM’s significance is expected to increase as negotiations between European countries and the United States proceed regarding data-sharing agreements. This development comes in the aftermath of stalled negotiations with the European Union, making OBIM a crucial player in bridging the gap between the two regions.