UK Identity and Passport Service and IBM Sign 7-year National Biometric
Identity Service (NBIS) Contract
LONDON, July 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) and the Identity and
Passport Service (IPS), an executive agency of the UK Home Office, have signed
a seven-year agreement for IBM to provide a core element of the Government's
plans to upgrade to biometric passports and enhance the security of the UK
border. IBM will also provide a replacement for the UK Border Agency's (UKBA)
Immigration and Asylum Fingerprint System (IAFS) which holds biometrics
collected from visa applicants.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090416/IBMLOGO )
James Hall, Chief Executive of the Identity and Passport Service, said: "This
contract will provide a secure database for storing facial and fingerprint
images for the next generation of biometric passports and will support the
delivery of the National Identity card."
John Granger, General Manager, IBM Global Business Services, said: "At a time
when the world is becoming increasingly interconnected, both through personal
travel and electronically, these new systems are part of building a smarter
and safer planet where identifying ourselves when we travel is easier and more
convenient. We look forward to extending and enhancing our existing
relationship with the IPS and the UK Border Agency."
As the prime contractor, IBM will integrate and operate the solution, the
majority of which will be built with IBM hardware and software. IBM will
obtain integration and operations support from Atos Origin and will obtain
biometric services and software from Sagem Securite (SAFRAN Group).
The contract between IPS and IBM was signed in May 2009.
Notes to Editors
Today's announcement concludes the NBIS contract award made in the Home Office
statement on the 7th April 2009:
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/Detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=398018&SubjectId=2
About the Identity and Passport Service
For further information visit: http://www.ips.gov.uk/
About IBM
For more information about IBM in the UK public sector, visit:
ibm.com/easyaccess/publicsector
Contacts
Home Office
Philip Skelton, Press Officer, Philip.Skelton@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk,
0207 035 3851
IBM
John Galvez, UK Media Relations, john.galvez@uk.ibm.com, 07734 104275
SOURCE IBM
Philip Skelton, Home Office, Press Officer,
Philip.Skelton@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk, +0207-035-3851; or John Galvez, IBM, UK
Media Relations, john.galvez@uk.ibm.com, +07734-104275
