FBI seeks $36m contract for nationwide real-time license plate data
The proposal, valued at up to $36 million over five years, aims to enhance threat evaluation capabilities but faces scrutiny over state privacy laws and vendor compliance.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has issued a Request for Proposals to secure nationwide access to automated license plate reader networks, seeking data in near real time. The contract, valued at up to $36 million over a five-year period, is designed for the FBI Directorate of Intelligence to track vehicles across the United States and its territories. The initiative aims to support the evaluation and management of threats to personal safety, property, and law enforcement.
Published on May 14, the RFP requires contractors to provide data from their existing platforms, covering at least 75 percent of their locations. Systems must allow searches for partial or full plate numbers, vehicle descriptions, time and date criteria, geo-location, and vehicle makes and models. Additionally, contractors must provide search result notifications and create heat maps depicting camera coverage, while disclosing the source of the information, such as red-light cameras or speed cameras.
The proposal divides the United States into six regions, including the continental US, Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands. The FBI may award contracts to one or two vendors per region, with the winning bidder or bidders required to provide law enforcement and commercial license plate reader data through their existing platforms. The system must be accessible to FBI users via a website and capable of delivering data in near real time.
Potential vendors include Flock and Motorola Solutions, both of which are well-positioned due to their existing market presence. Flock, which has deals with over 12,000 public safety customers, previously participated in a pilot program providing access to several federal agencies. Motorola Solutions sells cameras for roadways and police vehicles. Both companies could win part of the job, as the FBI indicated it may award contracts to multiple vendors to achieve the desired level of access.
The initiative faces scrutiny regarding privacy concerns and compliance with state laws. California and Virginia have enacted laws restricting the sharing of automated license plate reader data with out-of-state or federal law enforcement agencies. The Electronic Frontier Foundation reported in January 2024 that dozens of California law enforcement agencies had violated state laws by sharing data with out-of-state agencies. The RFP requires contractors to identify server locations to verify compliance with these state and local data laws.
Flock stated it does not work with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and that data sharing with federal agencies is disabled by default, requiring explicit permission from local agencies. The company confirmed it has federal customers including National Parks and military bases, but emphasised that any access is explicitly permission-based and opt-in by the local agency. The FBI already runs a license plate reader program to facilitate information sharing, and this new initiative could expand that capability through direct access to extensive camera networks.
