The Biometrics Institute has released its new Procurement Guidelines, offering detailed support for organizations acquiring and deploying biometric technologies. The document is the Institute’s 19th good practice resource and outlines a structured approach to responsible procurement across the entire technology lifecycle, from planning and selection to deployment and maintenance.
Filling a Critical Gap in Responsible Procurement
This latest publication follows the Institute’s recent update to its Privacy Guidelines, which introduced new safeguards in response to concerns around AI and neurotechnology. The Procurement Guidelines are specifically tailored for project and procurement teams across government, financial services, aviation, and humanitarian sectors, many of whom are facing increasing scrutiny over how biometric systems are sourced and implemented.
The guidelines are organized into eight key procurement phases, beginning with needs assessment and continuing through solution selection, integration, and long-term system assurance. Each section includes practical guidance and concludes with a checklist of critical evaluation questions. Key focus areas include the evaluation of liveness detection capabilities, demographic performance testing, and robust privacy protection measures – elements that are increasingly essential in compliance-focused environments.
An Evolving Landscape
The release comes at a time of heightened global attention on biometric technology standards. The Swedish Police Authority’s recent procurement of mobile biometric and passport readers is one example of the complex acquisitions the guidelines aim to support.
The guidance complements the Institute’s existing principles, including its Three Laws of Biometrics and Good Practice Framework, while drawing on recent government guidance on AI procurement. It also incorporates lessons from the Institute’s recent report on the challenges of AI in biometric systems, which highlighted the risks of bias, system drift, and vendor lock-in.
Organizations can download the guidelines through the Biometrics Institute’s member portal. The Institute plans to update the resource regularly to reflect ongoing developments in biometric technology and related regulatory landscapes.
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By Cass Kennedy
