Technology contractor Parsons Corporation has been awarded a new five-year indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract to upgrade the U.S. Coast Guard’s biometric identification capabilities for maritime operations. Under the deal, Parsons will modernize the Coast Guard’s Biometrics at Sea System (BASS 2.0), which enables boarding teams to collect and analyze fingerprints, facial images, and other biometrics from persons interdicted or rescued at sea.
The company will supply its rugged JavelinXL handheld devices and Ares software gateway to field units, providing real-time multi-modal capture of fingerprints (four-finger slap prints), dual-iris scans, face photos, and voice data. These mobile kits will allow Coast Guard personnel to instantly verify identities against watchlists and criminal databases during maritime interdictions, improving threat detection and law enforcement decision-making on the open ocean.
“Parsons is proud to partner with the U.S. Coast Guard on this vital modernization effort that will enhance operational efficiency and expand biometric capabilities to meet the evolving needs of maritime law enforcement and national security,” said Jon Moretta, president of Engineered Systems for Parsons.
The JavelinXL devices are rugged, Android-based handhelds designed for harsh maritime environments and are already in use by federal customers around the world. Managed through Parsons’ Ares mobile application, these devices provide lightweight, modular, and efficient solutions for collecting and integrating biometric data in dynamic maritime environments. Parsons has delivered over 3,500 mobile biometrics solutions to customers including the intelligence community, Department of Defense, and law enforcement.
Parsons officials said the upgrade will enhance operational efficiency and security as the Coast Guard confronts evolving challenges like transnational smuggling and unauthorized migration. The BASS 2.0 project reflects the broader trend of integrating biometric technology into frontline defense and homeland security missions to better “identify the unknowns” in the field.
The Coast Guard has been expanding its biometric capabilities in recent years. Earlier in 2025, the service sought vendors for TWIC biometric reader programs to enhance maritime facility security, and previously issued requests for information on upgrading its biometrics systems to integrate with newer homeland security databases.
Sources: Parsons Press Release, The Manila Times
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
