Management
Technology
- Applications
- Business Intelligence
- Development
- Hardware
- Mobile & Wireless
- Networking
- Internet
- Operating Systems
- Security Products
- Servers & Datacentre
- Storage
Toolbox
Training
Books
White Papers
Webcast
Resource Centre
August 04, 2008
First UK ID card contract with Thales worth £18m
Four year contract for National Identity Register database
By Jeremy Kirk, IDG News Service
Thales has won a four-year contract worth £18 million for the UK's national ID card programme, which aims to keep closer track of its citizens to cut down on crime and fraud.
Advert
The contract is the first to be awarded, according to the UK Identity and Passport Service (IPS). Thales will design and test the National Identity Register, a database that will hold peoples' personal and biometric details.
Thales is one of five main suppliers picked by IPS that will compete for specific contracts for various projects to support the ID card plan. The 10-year project, expected to run through 2017, will cost at least £4.7 billion.
Computer Sciences (CSC), Electronic Data Systems (EDS), Fujitsu and IBM are also part of the "strategic supplier group," which IPS has said was created to speed the procurement process and issuing of contracts. 3M, which makes the UK's biometric passports, has been selected to manufacture the ID cards.
The ID card programme was attacked in May by an independent group of advisors, which issued a report with concerns over how the complex system would be integrated with other government systems.
The scrutiny of the ID card project follows criticism of other large UK government IT projects. The IT revamp of the National Health Service has been plagued by problems with suppliers and cost overruns.
IPS is scheduled to start issuing biometric ID cards to foreign nationals this year. By late next year, ID cards will be issued to so-called critical workers, such as those employed at airports and other security-related jobs. In 2010, the cards will be issued to those who request them, with a mass issuance starting around 2011 or 2012.
The programme, which was fiercely opposed by privacy activists and those concerned about security, will be compulsory for those over 16 years old. Those applying for a new passport or renewing one will be issued an ID card.
Follow highlights from ComputerworldUK on Twitter
Sign up for our Daily Newsletter
The UK IT News widget Get it for your site!
« prev article | more government & law news | next article »
Advert
Email this article to a friend or colleague:
PLEASE NOTE: Your name is used only to let the recipient know who sent the story, and in case of transmission error. Both your name and the recipient's name and address will not be used for any other purpose.
- This article is now being printed.
What are your views on this subject? Use the form below to post a comment on this article up to 1000 characters.
Click below to add 'First UK ID card contract with Thales worth £18m - Public sector organisations - ComputerworldUK' to your blog.
If you do not have a ComputerworldUK Account and would like to use this feature, please Register.
If you are a registered, logged-in user, this will post the title and first paragraph of this story to your blog to share with your readers.
Advert
Newsletters
Sign up to our Weekly Round-Up for the past week’s not-to-be-missed news analysis and insight delivered straight to your inbox.
WHITE PAPERS
-
Legal risks: Employee use of the internet and email
Exploring the challenges facing IT Mangers today and vital steps to ensure safe internet an email use by employees. -
Phishing for victims
This White Paper examines the phenomenon of phishing. It explains the potentially catastrophic threat it presents to all kinds of organisation. Exploding some widespread myths, it lights up the murky waters where phishing first emerged and where it continues to evolve. But it also highlights what your business can do to blunt the threat.
