A milestone in the ongoing initiative to provide a National Identity Scheme in the UK has been reached today as the procurement process officially started.
The Identity and Passport Service published a notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, which formally invited potential suppliers to express interest.
According to the Home Office, this is designed to lead into a framework agreement, which creates a list of agreed contract terms and pre-qualified suppliers.
Related procurements throughout the government department will also be encompassed by the framework, including the enhancement of passport security and border controls.
Home Office minister Meg Hillier commented on today's development: "The methods we have traditionally relied on to prove ID are outdated, inefficient and increasingly open to abuse.
"As the framework procurement published today makes clear, we are committed to introducing the scheme carefully and securely, minimising both cost and risk," she added.
Last week, Bloomberg reported various companies such as Accenture, Microsoft and International Business Machines to be in the running for the scheme.
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