The General Services Administration has selected Hewlett-Packard to help manage its USAccess program, which provides identity credentials to more than 500,000 federal employees and contractors.
Under the one-year contract, which has a $47 million ceiling, Managed Service Office will use an HP technology solution to help manage the delivery of Personal Identity Verification (PIV) credentials to federal agencies, according to HP. PIV cards issued through the GSA program meet the Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) 12– Policy standards.
The 2004 order by President George W. Bush said all employees and contractors must have a common ID card including a photo and computer chip with fingerprints, personal identification number and security access information by October 2008. The ID cards are used to access federally-owned facilities and networks.
As of September 1, agencies have issued 5.1 million ID cards to employees and contractors — about 88 percent of the total 5.8 million cards to be issued, according to the most recent data from the Office of Management and Budget. The numbers include civilian employees and military personnel but exclude cards that must also be issued to guest researchers and other individuals.
State Department, Social Security Administration and the Housing and Urban Development Department are among the few agencies that are in full compliance with the presidential directive .
