Naval criminal investigators reach out to industry for tiny convert surveillance camera

June 27, 2014
QUANTICO, Va., 27 June 2014. U.S. Navy criminal investigators are surveying industry to find electro-optics companies able to build a tiny surveillance camera roughly the size of a stick of chewing gum.
QUANTICO, Va., 27 June 2014. U.S. Navy criminal investigators are surveying industry to find electro-optics companies able to build a tiny surveillance camera roughly the size of a stick of chewing gum.

Officials of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) in Quantico, Va., on Wednesday issued a sources-sought notice (N6328514SU717) for their Covert Camera Recorder program. Officials caution that they are not asking for formal proposals yet.

NCIS officials are interested in an extremely small camera that can be hidden as part of criminal investigations. The camera should measure no larger than 1.5 inches long, 0.75 inches wide, and 0.25 inches thick.

It should be a high-grade digital video recorder with interchangeable locking batteries, and recording time of 16 hours with as much as 32 gigabytes of digital memory. The camera should have a built-in high-gain microphone with optional audio cutoff switch, time and data stamp, as well as simple and fast USB connection.

Related: CMOS camera for color-critical applications in defense imaging systems introduced by Toshiba

The camera, moreover, should come with a fixed-button or screw head, connect directly to a computer with no software needed, and one-button recording capability.

With this notice NCIS officials are trying to determine potential sources for such a small covert camera, and if the acquisition could be competitive or a small business set-aside.

Related: Small is more: SWAP for soldier systems and unmanned vehicles dominates today's technology

Companies able to develop such a camera should contact the NCIS's Carrie Lucas by phone at 571-305-9288, or by email at [email protected].

More information is online at https://www.fbo.gov/notices/c27567bbfcd8d908b86957f4dd06864c.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Military Aerospace, create an account today!