Contract
Researched
Clearview AI — $9.2M ICE facial recognition contract (Sept 2025)
In September 2025, ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) finalized a $9.2 million sole-source contract with Clearview AI for biometric facial matching software.
Contract Structure
- Base period: One year
- Options: Three one-year extensions
- Total potential value: $9.2 million
Stated Purpose
The contract provides facial recognition for two investigative missions:
- Child sexual exploitation cases
- Investigations into assaults on law enforcement officers
However, once deployed, the technology’s actual use is difficult to oversee or constrain to stated purposes.
Technology
Clearview provides access to a proprietary database of 50+ billion facial images scraped from the internet – described in procurement documents as “the largest and most comprehensive facial recognition database available.”
Sole-Source Justification
ICE prepared the sole-source justification in August 2025, citing Clearview’s unique database and technology as grounds for bypassing competitive bidding.