The Swiss Federal Office for Buildings and Logistics (FOBL) has awarded Thales DIS Schweiz AG an 18.9 million CHF contract to provide IT services for the overhaul of Switzerland’s Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS). The agreement, finalized yesterday, follows an open procurement process focused on consulting, software development, internet, and system support, and will span nearly 17 years (6,205 days), running through mid-2042.
Under this contract, Thales will replace the existing AFIS, currently utilized by the Federal Office of Police (fedpol), by mid-2027. The AFIS facilitates the identification of individuals and crime-scene evidence by matching fingerprint data.
Additionally, the project includes an optional facial image comparison module operating under similar principles as the AFIS fingerprint system. The facial recognition capability, however, explicitly excludes real-time monitoring or social media scanning, aligning with Swiss regulations that prohibit such activities without a legal framework.
The Federal Office for Buildings and Logistics selected Thales after an open tendering process in which two submissions were evaluated. Thales’ proposal stood out in technical compliance, usability, and economic feasibility. The selection was based on weighted criteria including the quality of the technical solution, effectiveness of the facial recognition and fingerprint algorithms, and overall usability, in addition to the competitive price point.
The awarded project has a scheduled duration of approximately 17 years, ending in May 2042, with built-in options for further development, training, and extended support and maintenance. Optional services available through the contract include third-level support and maintenance for both the AFIS and facial image modules, additional training, and further enhancements as needed by the FOBL.
The overhaul reflects Switzerland’s broader modernization efforts within the law enforcement and criminal justice sectors, emphasizing accuracy, reliability, and strict adherence to privacy standards. Notably, the facial recognition component is restricted to stored facial image comparisons and will not extend to real-time surveillance or integration with external databases such as social media platforms, reflecting current Swiss legal constraints.
Source: TED
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March 11, 2025 – by Cass Kennedy
