TWIC: One step at a time

The national Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) system is a multiphase endeavor to provide a common employee ID card for some 12 million transportation workers.

The Transportation Security Administration awarded a $3.8 million contract to Maximus Inc. in April to evaluate smart card technology. The next phase will involve creating a prototype.

A request for proposals (RFP) is expected this summer, according to Gene Kakalec, vice president of business development and marketing operations at Northrop Grumman Information Technology. He expects the prototype contract to be worth $8 million to $10 million.

TWIC's last phase, with an RFP expected in March 2004, will call for the system's full implementation. Northrop Grumman plans to pursue both the prototype and implementation phases as prime contractor, Kakalec said.