The UK’s Identity and Passport Service (IPS) has selected eight companies to participate in Competitive Dialogue over the coming months prior to seeking final tenders for the National Identity Scheme Strategic Supplier Framework.

The creation of the shortlist follows the conclusion of the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) stage of the framework, which involved responses from 11 firms.

Bill Crothers, IPS Commercial director says: “The announcement of the shortlist of eight bidders represents another important milestone towards delivering the National Identity Scheme. We have been pleased with the level of interest shown in the National Identity Scheme by the industry and now have a solid core of eight ‘prime bidders’ who will go forward to the next stage of the procurement process. Of course involvement in the procurement process is not restricted to just the eight companies we have announced. Each prime bidder has their own network of sub-contractors representing a wide range of industry talent.

“We will now start the process of Competitive Dialogue with the short-listed bidders. In line with our commitment to an open, cooperative and consultative approach to procuring the National Identity Scheme, we want this to be a fully two way process. Over the next few weeks we will be in close contact with the selected bidders, explaining in detail our plans and listening to their views and taking them into account before deciding which companies will be included in the next stage of the procurement process.”

The companies invited to participate in Competitive Dialogue with IPS are: Accenture, BAE Systems, CSC, EDS, Fujitsu, IBM, Steria and Thales.

The IPS says it plans to have the framework contract, with approximately five prime suppliers, in place by May 2008.