UK taps CSC, IBM for biometrics, IDs and passports
07 April, 2009
category: Biometrics, Contactless, Digital ID, Government
CSC announced that the UK Identity and Passport Service (IPS), an agency of the Home Office responsible for issuing UK passports and ID cards, has awarded the company a 10-year managed IT services contract to upgrade the IPS application and enrollment system. The agreement has an estimated value of $570 million.
IBM was awarded $390 million contract to run the UK’s National Biometric Identity Service, which will deliver a database for storing facial and fingerprint biometrics for the U.K. passport and ID card, according to a Bloomberg News report. The company will replace the Border Agency’s existing biometric database.
Under the terms of the contract, CSC will assume responsibility for several existing legacy IT service contracts supporting the IPS. CSC will upgrade the existing application and enrollment system with new capabilities to process applications for passports and ID cards. The additions include the ability for customers to apply online; improved background checking; a new system for reporting lost and stolen passports and ID cards; customer support for updating personal data; and new IT and telephony systems.
Working in conjunction with the IPS and its other delivery partners for the National Identity Service, CSC will help deliver the next generation of biometric passports and support the introduction of ID cards.
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