Public procurement notice: Prior Information Notice Without Call For Competition
Published: 2024-01-31
Buyer: Department of Foreign Affairs/An Roinn Gnóthaí Eachtracha
Country: IE
Contract type: Services
CPV classification: 72260000: Software-related services | 72261000: Software support services | 72263000: Software implementation services
Estimated value: 6000000 EUR
Submission deadline: 2024-03-31

Technical requirements: Background:
The Contracting Authority is responsible for issuing all Irish passports under the Passports Act 2008 and all Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) certificates under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, via the Irish Passport Service. This involves the complete document issuance process, from enrolment/application processing through to book, card, and certificate personalisation. The Contracting Authority commissioned the current Facial Recognition Solution (FRS) system in 2016. As FRS technology has improved significantly over recent years, the Contracting Authority considers it timely to update the technology in use.

In 2022, the Contracting Authority initiated a procurement exercise to procure a Facial Recognition Solution for the Passport Service. In that instance, no contract was awarded. Following a review of developments within the Passport Service ICT architectural environment, and consideration of updated requirements of relevant business stakeholders and feedback from the market, the Department have amended the scope of the FRS product to be procured. 

Next Steps:
The Contracting Authority will conduct a new tender process for a ‘headless’ facial recognition solution to integrate with the passport processing system. 

In summary, the services comprise:   
1.	A ‘headless’ solution for executing facial matching of images received with Passport and FBR applications.
2.	Latest best in class facial matching algorithm
3.	Integration with the core application processing system using modern API based integration patterns
4.	Migration of existing images and associated metadata to build matching galleries 
5.	The provision of 3rd level support and maintenance services through an existing Managed Service Provider
6.	System administration functions to support the tuning of facial matching thresholds
7.	Implementation services to design and build the solution in line with Department timelines.

It is anticipated the core application processing system will be responsible for delivering the following functionality:

1.	System workflow to manage the flow of applications through the core application processing system including but not limited to the facial matching business process. This system will be the central system to manage all workflow and business rule logic.
2.	User dashboards and reporting
3.	Where required, provision of user interfaces to support the manual adjudication, facial searching and matching required by the Contracting Authority.
The procurement of this ‘headless’ Facial Recognition Solution will be a single stage Open procedure. It is envisioned that this RFT will issue in Q1 2024. As noted, the services to be sought comprise:   

1.	A ‘headless’ solution for executing facial matching of images received with Passport and FBR applications.
2.	Latest best in class facial matching algorithm
3.	Integration with the core application processing system using modern API based integration patterns
4.	Migration of existing images and associated metadata to build matching galleries 
5.	The provision of 3rd level support and maintenance services through an existing Managed Service Provider
6.	System administration functions to support the tuning of facial matching thresholds
7.	Implementation services to design and build the solution in line with Department timelines.

It is anticipated the core application processing system will be responsible for delivering the following functionality:

1.	System workflow to manage the flow of applications through the core application processing system including but not limited to the facial matching business process. This system will be the central system to manage all workflow and business rule logic.
2.	User dashboards and reporting
3.	Where required, provision of user interfaces to support the manual adjudication, facial searching and matching required by the Contracting Authority.