FBI Awards $128M Contract to Leidos for Biometric System Modernization

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has awarded Leidos a $128 million contract to modernize its Next Generation Identification (NGI) system, the world’s largest electronic repository of biometric and criminal history records. The contract includes a one-year base period and four additional option years, and aims to expand and improve the FBI’s biometric identification capabilities through agile software development and deployment.

Enhancing Biometric Identification Capabilities

Leidos will support the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) division in upgrading the NGI system, which plays a critical role in assisting law enforcement and intelligence agencies across the United States. The company is tasked with developing mobile applications, implementing advanced biometric algorithms, building automated testing systems, and integrating emerging technologies to modernize the platform. These upgrades are expected to strengthen the system’s speed, accuracy, and adaptability in a rapidly evolving threat landscape.

This effort follows the FBI’s 2024 initiative to evaluate next-generation biometric algorithms, which began with a formal request for information seeking improved matching technologies. The NGI platform has already seen measurable gains; Leidos reports that it has helped increase fingerprint identification accuracy to over 99.6 percent.

“Leidos has long partnered with the FBI to deliver mission-critical biometric systems, including NGI—the largest, most efficient electronic repository of biometric and criminal history data,” said Roy Stevens, Leidos National Security Sector President. “Leidos’ work with the FBI to improve the system’s accuracy facilitates many more criminal identifications, helping to keep America safe.”

Context and Broader National Security Strategy

The modernization aligns with broader trends in federal biometric security investments. In addition to its FBI contract, Leidos recently secured a $249 million agreement with the U.S. Army to enhance force protection and access control systems. Meanwhile, federal funding for biometric and AI infrastructure has been boosted by recent legislative developments, including the sweeping “One Big Beautiful Bill” that allocates billions toward border security enhancements using these technologies.

The NGI upgrade will also build on lessons learned from the FBI’s prior biometric programs. These include the agency’s iris recognition pilot project and earlier deployment of facial recognition tools, both of which have expanded the NGI system’s ability to manage multimodal biometric data. The improvements come amid rising concerns about emerging threats such as synthetic identity fraud and deepfake media, which have become pressing challenges for identity verification platforms. The biometrics industry has recently explored multimodal solutions to mitigate these risks, and the NGI upgrade is expected to reflect these evolving defense strategies.

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By the ID Tech Editorial Team