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European Union · biometric border control · watch lists

Shared Biometric Matching System (sBMS)

Awarded Status as of 19 October 2026 · Funding type: Not published

eu-LISA chose a consortium of IDEMIA and Sopra Steria in 2020 to build the shared biometric matching system that sits under several EU border and police databases (company statement) 1. The framework contract runs four years with an option to extend up to six. The system first serves identification for the Entry/Exit System and is to support the Schengen Information System, the Visa Information System, Eurodac and ECRIS-TCN. The vendors said it would hold fingerprints and facial images of over 400 million third-country nationals 1. The release did not state a contract value, and no audit finding on sBMS was found in the sources reviewed.

Key terms

Buyer
eu-LISA
Vendor
IDEMIA and Sopra Steria consortium
Vendor based in
Not confirmed
Signed
2020 (announced 3 June 2020, company statement)
Duration
4 years, with an option to extend up to 6 years
Value
Not published
Funding
Not published
Procurement route
framework
System ownership
Not published
Data terms
A database of over 400 million third-country nationals with fingerprints and facial images, serving the Entry/Exit System first and later SIS, VIS, Eurodac and ECRIS-TCN (company statement, 3 June 2020)

Audits, courts, parliament and regulators

  1. 3 June 2020: The vendors stated the framework contract followed a competitive call for tender, reference LISA/2019/RP/05 EES BMS and sBMS 1

Sources

  1. IDEMIA and Sopra Steria via Business Wire, company statement: IDEMIA and Sopra Steria Chosen by eu-LISA to Build the New Shared Biometric Matching System (sBMS) (3 June 2020)

Fields marked "Not published" or "Not confirmed" could not be established from an official or reliable source. If you hold a document that fills a gap or corrects an entry, write to editor@bordercontracts.org. Last checked 19 October 2026.

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