Dec. 15, 2025 —
On Sept. 4, the Coast Guard awarded an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract with a value up to $9.7 million to Parsons Corporation’s InCadence Strategic Solutions to support the service’s next-generation Biometrics at Sea System, known as BASS 2.0.
The contract will enable the Coast Guard to acquire additional biometric devices, sustain existing software and hardware, purchase essential peripheral equipment, and address integration, infrastructure and cybersecurity requirements.
The Coast Guard was seeking more rugged handhelds with updated software and related contractor support. The upgraded handheld devices will communicate with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) systems and resources in real time without compromising speed, security or the program’s documented privacy constraints.
Crews collect biometrics at sea and submit them to the DHS enterprise system for identity checks that inform law enforcement decisions.
In 2023, the Coast Guard began modernizing BASS by replacing outdated devices with rugged commercial off-the-shelf handhelds and enhancing biometric submissions to authoritative databases. These upgrades have strengthened the Coast Guard’s ability to bolster maritime security, enforce laws, protect borders and counter transnational organized crime and maritime illegal migration.
Deployment of the additional BASS devices will occur in phases, with the first rollout scheduled for 2026 and continuing through 2027.
For more information: C5ISR page