ImageWare Systems, Inc. [IWSY] says it has been selected to expand a previously announced biometric border management project with an undisclosed foreign country. The contract is worth up to $37 million if all options are exercised and calls for ImageWare to continue implementation of its border management solution, which will manage biometrically-enabled visa holders in specific visa categories issued to the country’s visitors. The project will begin this month and is expected to conclude in mid- 2012. The project initially began in Oct. 2009. “As a result of a successful implementation, the host government requested ImageWare to combine the remainder of Phase 1 work with a significant expansion in Phase 2,” says Jim Miller, chairman and CEO of ImageWare. “IWS was billed and paid approximately $2.5 million for its initial work on the project.” Miller says that once the foundation for the border management is in place, the country will be able to expand the solution in other venues and broaden the business process that requires the support of IWS’ identity management solution. The border management software will enable the country to enroll visa applicants. Once an applicant’s finger, face and iris images are enrolled along with biographical information, a smart card will be issued to the applicant that will be used to verify the authenticity of his or her identity and privileges.