Thursday 9th August 2007
Today marks another milestone in delivery of the National Identity Scheme with the start of the procurement process.
For the first time in the UK there will be a single safe, trusted way for individuals, business and the State to prove identity securely, conveniently and efficiently. Through the Scheme, identity will be protected from people who might want to misuse or steal it. There will be independent oversight of the system and public accountability for how it is run.
“The National Identity Scheme will be a crucial part of the UK’s key national infrastructure, and bring the way we prove identity into the 21st century.”
“It has become increasingly clear that the methods we have traditionally relied on to prove ID are outdated, inefficient, and increasingly open to abuse. That has to end, and that is why we are taking the Scheme forward.”
“This is a groundbreaking project, with the potential for huge benefits for individuals and for the nation. As the Framework Procurement published today makes clear, we are committed to introducing the Scheme carefully and securely, minimising both cost and risk.”
The Scheme will provide a simple mechanism, backed up by Government, which will, in time, mean an end to people having to prove who they are to public services in a number of confusing different ways. In time individuals will only need to tell the public services once when their details - for example address - change. This will save time and reduce inconvenience. It will also make it easier for public services to confirm identity, helping them provide the services people need.
The Identity and Passport Service (IPS) has taken a key step forward in the first procurements for the Scheme, with publication of a notice in the Official Journal of the European Union inviting expressions of interest from potential suppliers. This paves the way for a Framework Agreement, a contract which creates a list of pre-qualified suppliers, along with a set of agreed contract terms. IPS will then be able to procure its requirements from this pool of suppliers, as and when required. The Framework will also encompass related procurements across the Home Office, such as IPS plans to enhance passport security, and Border and Immigration Agency projects to strengthen border control and enforce immigration rules.
Identity and Passport Service Chief Executive James Hall said:
“Throughout the development of our plans for the National Identity Scheme we have been talking to the public, partners and those who have expressed concerns about the Scheme and our ideas have been shaped by the feedback we have received.”
“This feedback has allowed us first to ensure that the legislation which underpins the Scheme is right and subsequently to refine our vision of how the Scheme will be delivered.”
“The arguments for the Scheme are compelling and the will to deliver it is as strong as ever. Feedback from the supplier community has shaped our approach to procurement and will ensure we have a competitive process that enables innovative solutions and value for money. I am confident that the supplier community will step up to the mark in helping us construct this key national asset.”
To achieve the Scheme’s objectives, IPS will need a range of capabilities that will come from a combination of the private and public sectors. These capabilities include the ability to deliver large, complex, secure systems; to manage these systems to deliver reliable performance day after day; to respond flexibly as requirements and priorities evolve; to deliver a consistent, high-quality customer experience to the millions of people who will use the Scheme; and to provide outstanding value for money.
The Strategic Action Plan for the National Identity Scheme, published in December, sets out plans for the introduction of biometric immigration documents for foreign nationals in 2008 and identity cards for British citizens alongside the introduction of second generation biometric passports containing fingerprints in 2009.
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