FBI seeks US-wide access to license plate cameras, wants “data in near real time”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is taking significant steps to enhance its surveillance capabilities by seeking nationwide access to a comprehensive network of license plate readers. This initiative aims to secure contracts with vendors that can deliver license plate data in near real-time from cameras strategically located throughout the United States. In a Request for Proposals (RFP) issued on May 14, the FBI's Directorate of Intelligence outlined its requirements for the project, emphasizing the need for professional service firms that can supply License Plate Readers (LPRs). These systems will play a critical role in monitoring subjects traveling on roads and highways across the country and its territories. The FBI has specified that the successful bidder or bidders must ensure that their platforms can provide law enforcement and commercial license plate reader data. To be effective, the system is expected to cover at least 75 percent of relevant locations, allowing comprehensive searches for license plate information alongside other vital descriptive data, such as vehicle characteristics, timestamps, and geographical locations. Moreover, the FBI's requirements include the ability to receive notifications based on search results, as well as the capability to access and query cameras across the nation. Contractors will also need to provide visual representations of camera coverage through heat mapping and disclose the origins of their data, whether from red-light cameras, repossession agencies, or speed enforcement systems. The agency's database must facilitate searches using both partial and full plate numbers, state information, addresses, scanned locations, and vehicle makes and models, underscoring the extensive scope of this surveillance initiative.