U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking commercial solutions capable of capturing high-quality facial images of travelers in vehicles at land border crossings. The proposed system would support biometric identity verification as part of CBP’s Simplified Arrival program.
According to the RFI, the agency is exploring technologies that can photograph occupants of privately owned vehicles (POVs) as they arrive at officer-manned inspection zones at land ports of entry (POEs). The photo capture process may be passive, officer-initiated, or use a hybrid approach. CBP emphasizes that any proposed solution must meet the facial image quality standards required by its Traveler Verification Service (TVS), which underpins the agency’s facial recognition-based identity matching processes.
System Integration and Operational Context
CBP’s vision for this capability is closely tied to its Simplified Arrival system, which uses facial biometrics to automate the manual inspection of travel documents and determine admissibility to the United States. The agency notes that the new solution must integrate seamlessly with the vehicle-focused module of this platform, known as Simplified Arrival – Vehicle (SA-V).
The initiative reflects CBP’s continued efforts to expand the use of facial recognition at land borders. While the technology has already been widely deployed in airports and seaports, adapting it to land border crossings presents logistical and technical challenges, particularly in capturing reliable facial images through car windows or in motion.
Industry Input and Next Steps
The RFI, listed under Notice ID RFI-LVPZTPCD, is open until May 30, 2025. CBP is using this exploratory phase to gauge the market and inform a potential future procurement. Interested vendors are encouraged to respond with details on their capabilities, including any experience with biometric capture in transportation settings and the ability to meet federal interoperability and privacy standards.
This RFI does not constitute a solicitation, but rather a market research exercise that could shape the scope and specifications of a future contract opportunity. Responses are being managed by CBP’s Information Technology Contracting Division in Washington, D.C.
Source: SAM.gov
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April 30, 2025 – by Ji-seo Kim
