US-VISITAccenture wins $71 million contract for US VISIT
On Wednesday Accenture Federal Services announced that it had won a thirteen month, $71 million contract with DHS to bolster its immigration and border management systems
On Wednesday Accenture Federal Services announced that it had won a thirteen month, $71 million contract with DHS to bolster its immigration and border management systems.
In particular, the contract is for the US VISIT program which checks biometric data on foreign travelers entering the country. Under the deal, Accenture will increase the number and types of biometrics used in identification at ports of entry in addition to supporting the system with technical service.
“Border management, immigration and customs organizations are challenged with facilitating the movement of people and cargo across borders while enhancing the security of citizens and visitors,” said Tom Greiner, the head of Accenture’s US-VISIT program. “We are working with Homeland Security to create border management solutions that deliver results.”
US VISIT currently relies on digital fingerprints and photographs, but a pilot program has been introduced to test the use of facial and iris scans.
Accenture has been involved with the US VISIT program since 2004, when it oversaw the implementation of the Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT). IDENT is now the world’s largest biometric identity solution, checking more than 300,000 individuals a day against a database of more than 130 million to ensure that terrorists, criminals, and felons are not entering the country.
On average the system is capable of processing a user in under ten seconds.
