Customs eyes tech future beyond SmartGate

Customs and Border Protection has called for ideas to enable more efficient processing of international travellers through sea and air ports over the next decade.

The service issued a request for information (RFI) seeking solutions that "do not rely [on] simply implementing more of the current technology and associated traveller processing infrastructure".

The outcome of the RFI is expected to be a shortlist of suitable suppliers, from whom Customs will seek tenders for delivering technology solutions and refining its bid for Government funding over the 2013-2023 period.

Customs' 10-year future state model and strategy for traveller processing looks to incorporate more efficient electronic interfaces into traveller processing.

The service already uses SmartGate self-processing kiosks, which compare a traveller's passport photo with digital images taken by three cameras.

The Governnent has committed to fund more SmartGate kiosks at Australia's international airports.

But with "extraordinary growth surges" in traveller volumes predicted in several locations and years ahead, Customs is looking to a new generation of processing systems.

Broad options sought by the RFI cover solutions to automate traveller border processing, verify biometric identity, supply traveller information, reduce queues, perform behavioural assessments, and offer “non-intrusive traveller concealment detection".

The RFI indicates that Customs is open to proposals for “joint technology development partnerships”.

Customs' evaluation criteria give 50 percent weighting to suppliers with relevant experience and appropriate security and reliability certifications, and 50 percent for the merits of the technical solution.