National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) Cartridge Cases - IBIS

1.0 Purpose of Request for Information

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI).  This RFI provides notification of an upcoming intent to sole source to Forensic Technology Inc. (LEADSONLINE) and the government is conducting market research to determine if there are any other potential sources available.

This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes – it does not constitute a Request for Quote (RFQ) or a promise to issue an RFQ in the future.  This request for information does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever.  Further, ICE will not accept unsolicited proposals. Interested parties are advised that the Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party’s expense.  It is the responsibility of the interested parties to monitor these sites for additional information pertaining to this requirement. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned.

2.0 Background

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Forensic Laboratory (FL) has a requirement for the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) Cartridge Cases Acquisition, Analysis and Triage Package. HSI-FL mission is to disrupt and dismantle transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) by providing expert quality forensic, scientific, intelligence, and investigative support services to DHS, ICE, and HSI.

It is HSI policy to establish mandatory requirements for seized firearms and casings to be submitted to the NIBIN, which is a nationwide network that connects Integrated Ballistic Identification System (IBIS) systems across different jurisdictions. NIBIN enables federal investigators to match fired cartridge casings to the guns from which they were fired and link shooting incidents. NIBIN technology has proven its value by generating investigative leads essential to solving gun crimes and reducing violence by tracing guns and ammunition used in criminal activity, connecting crime scenes and identifying deadly shooters, and apprehending firearms smugglers for arrest and prosecution.

NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. It is a resource that is vital to any violent crime reduction strategy, providing investigators with the ability to compare their ballistics evidence against evidence from other crimes outside of their jurisdiction.

3.0 Submission of Vendor’s Qualification and Experience

Interested parties are requested to respond to this RFI with a submission of the company’s qualifications and experience in response to the RFI and its attachments. Responses must be submitted in size 12 Times New Roman font with single spacing and 1” margins. The white paper shall include the following:

3.1 Cover page (maximum 2 pages)

At a minimum, interested parties shall provide and include the following: 

• Company Information and Point of Contact (POC)
• Company Name
• POC Name and Contact Information (phone number and email address)
• SAM UEI number
• Business Size, to include any socio-economic status
• Overview of Company History
• Company Mailing Address
• Website Address

3.2 White paper (maximum 5 pages)

3.2.1. Describe briefly with enough information, a current and/or past contract example in the last 3 years providing same or similar product/service to Attachment 1.  Please include the contract/task order number, Agency or Company, period of performance, annual and total value, the prime and/or subcontractor, customer agency or contract point of contact.  

3.2.2. Briefly provide your technical capabilities to meet and/or exceed the requirements outlined in Attachment 1, to include any proposed products and/or product literature.

4.0       Submission Instructions

Responses shall be received via e-mail as one electronic submission in Adobe PDF format with the subject line “for RFI # HSI-FL-192125VHFDL00009.”

Submissions must be received no later than Monday, July 11, 2025, at 10:00 AM (EST) and submitted only to Christopher.L.Jackson@ice.dhs.gov. Early submissions are encouraged. ICE reserves the right to review late submissions but makes no guarantee of their review.