EDS Nabs HSPD-12 Contract

The General Services Administration has awarded Electronic Data Systems a contract to help roll out the information technology infrastructure needed to provide identity credentials to agencies participating in GSA's governmentwide Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 program.

GSA's HSPD-12 Shared Services Provider II contract, worth an estimated $66 million, will establish the information technology to provide end-to-end compliant ID credentials. It will cover 42 agencies, boards and commissions.

The contract award, a Schedule 70 task order with a 17-month base period plus three option years, provides for up to 1.5 million identity accounts and credentials. The new secure credentials will be issued to federal employees and contractors with access to IT systems.

Michel Kareis, director of GSA's HSPD 12 program, said earlier this year that the contractor selected as GSA's provider would be expected within 90 days of the award to start producing cards that include a digital image of the holder's index finger and a digital certificate.

GSA decided last fall against exercising the remaining option years in a contract with BearingPoint for end-to-end ID card services.