SAIC continues biometrics gate-keeping at Iraqi entry ports

Science Applications International Corp. will continue providing biometrics support to U.S. Central Command under a three-year task order that could be worth more than $23 million.

Under the task order, awarded under the Biometrics Operations and Support Services-Unrestricted contract, SAIC will provide the U.S. military and its coalition partners with biometric enrollment support at entry ports throughout Iraq.

Registering people in biometric databases is critical in helping identify insurgents throughout the Central Command’s area of responsibility, according to an SAIC statement.

The company has supported the biometric-enabled enrollments for the past six years.

SAIC won the prime follow-on contract from the Defense Department's Biometrics Identity Management Agency.

The widespread application of biometric technologies is a crucial tool in helping to identify and uncover insurgents and terrorists, said John Thomas, SAIC's senior vice president and business unit general manager, in the statement.

SAIC, of McLean, Va., ranks No. 5 on Washington Technology’s 2010 Top 100 list of the largest federal government contractors.