Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW) has launched procurement for a new facial recognition platform that will be embedded in the state’s licence and Photo Card register. The system is expected to go live by the end of 2026, replacing the current NEC solution that has been in place since 2018.
Procurement and Requirements
The tender, issued under reference WS4878301930, calls for the provision, implementation, testing, and ongoing support of a facial recognition system capable of both one-to-one verification and one-to-many identification. TfNSW has set a target of January 2026 to finalize a supplier, with full deployment to follow before the end of that year.
Officials said the solution must compare new enrolment photos against existing Transport for NSW records and the state’s DRIVES database, as well as check against other agencies’ holdings to prevent duplicate identities and fraudulent applications. A spokesperson noted that “a key part of issuing these documents is ensuring the right person obtains them… one driver, one licence.”
Replacing the NEC Platform
The state first adopted NEC’s face-matching technology in 2018, following an earlier deployment by Idemia. That initial NEC contract was valued at A$5.6 million and later expanded to a total of A$15.5 million. The current agreement is set to expire in December 2026, with the new procurement ensuring continuity of service and enhanced fraud detection.
The new solution reflects a broader push to refresh the state’s digital identity infrastructure. TfNSW is moving toward off-the-shelf technology to replace bespoke builds, with an emphasis on scalability, interoperability, and fraud prevention.
Policy and Digital ID Context
The system upgrade comes as New South Wales advances its Digital ID pilot, which allows Photo Card holders to generate verifiable digital credentials in the Service NSW app. The government has also issued public guidance on photo verification and liveness detection, signaling the integration of facial recognition into both physical document issuance and digital identity frameworks.
The update also follows years of debate over the use of face recognition technology in New South Wales. Earlier this year, NSW Police retired an older Cognitec platform over algorithm concerns, highlighting the state’s effort to ensure reliability and compliance in biometric deployments.
Source: InnovationAus.com, NSW Buy, iTnews
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
