Sweden has issued an RFI for a new ABIS to collect biometric data from asylum seekers, while Moldova is tendering biometric data processing hardware valued at 1.5 million leu. Sweden’s new system will support legislative changes for facial image processing, and Moldova has also prepared for a mobile biometric system procurement earlier this year.
Sweden is exploring the acquisition of a new biometric system aimed at collecting fingerprints and facial images from asylum seekers. The Swedish Migration Board has released a Request for Information (RFI) for an Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) which they plan to procure in the coming years. This update follows legislative changes that will require facial images to be searchable alongside existing fingerprint data.
Currently, fingerprint data is stored in the Swedish Police Authority’s ABIS and the Eurodac information system. Plans are underway to allow the Swedish Migration Board to operate its own searchable biometric register, moving away from the police’s ABIS. This new system aims to include data from both asylum seekers and other immigration applicants, estimating the capacity to store around 3 million fingerprints and 7 million facial images, but no latent images will be stored.
The deadline for responses to the RFI is set for March 25th, 2025, and details can be found on the procurement platform TendSign. In a related development, Moldova has also issued a tender for biometric data processing hardware valued at 1.5 million Moldovan leu (approximately $84,322). The submission deadline for bids is April 8th, 2025, with a contract duration of 90 days as specified by the Public Services Agency.
Additionally, earlier in February, Moldova released a prior information notice (PIN) for mobile biometric data processing hardware with an estimated value of 1.7 million Moldovan leu (around $91,890), also excluding VAT, indicating a robust investment in biometric infrastructure.
Both Sweden and Moldova are advancing their biometric capabilities through significant procurements. Sweden’s RFI for a new ABIS signifies a shift towards a more independent biometric management system for immigration, while Moldova’s tenders reflect ongoing efforts to enhance their biometric data processing infrastructure. These developments underscore the growing importance of biometric identification in immigration processes.
Original Source: www.biometricupdate.com
