SAPOL seeks biometric fingerprint system upgrade

South Australia Police (SAPOL) has gone to market for a supplier to provide a commercial, off-the-shelf biometric fingerprint system.

SAPOL currently uses biometric capture technology to support custody processing, criminal identification, investigative workflows and intelligence activities. This system includes the ability to capture biometric material in accordance with legislative and evidentiary requirements.

Technological advancements in biometric capture, enhanced standards for NAFIS NextGen, and the need for improved digital records management require SAPOL to replace and transition to modern, enterprise grade fingerprint and photographic capture system.

The new solution will aim to enable the lawful and reliable capture, quality assurance, transmission and storage of fingerprints, palm prints and custody photographs statewide; ensure interoperability with the NAFIS NextGen national system; and support SAPOL’s operational, investigative and evidentiary requirements.

The solution must include replacement of all fixed and non‑fixed biometric capture devices, capture of fingerprints, palm prints, upper hand / phalange images and custody photographs, quality control and validation mechanisms aligned with NAFIS NextGen; and advanced workflow management and user interface modernisation.

The solution also requires packaging and transmission of biometric data to NAFIS NextGen; secure storage, records management and retention capabilities; integration with SAPOL platforms and demographic prefilling; data migration of the previous two years of records, with a secure, long-term digital repository for fingerprints, palm prints, demographic data and custody photographs; system administration consoles, reporting, troubleshooting tools and device monitoring; and support, maintenance, SLAs, training and documentation.

The expected contract term is five years, with an option for a pair of yearlong extension options.

Replacement of all devices and full system go live needs to happen before 1 June 2027, with a transition in period of approximately 18 months; support and maintenance will continue for the duration of the contract term.

In 2014, NEC Australia developed and deployed a mobile fingerprint solution for SAPOL, and two years later, was selected for a $780,000 facial recognition software contract.