3M-SPSL wins critical worker ID card deal

Alongside its announcement of the five suppliers to work on the national ID card programme in the UK, the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) also announced that 3M-SPSL has been appointed to manufacture and supply identity cards for a roll-out to critical workers, including those employed airside at airports, starting from 2009. 3M-SPSL currently produces the UK’s biometric passport.

The government plans that compulsory identity cards will be introduced for foreign nationals in November this year. From late 2009, cards will be rolled out to those employed in sensitive roles or locations where identity assurance is important to public protection, such as airside workers. From 2010 identity cards will be available on a voluntary basis to young people to assist them in proving their identity as they start out on their independent life in society. The enrolment of British citizens at high volumes will start from 2011/12, offering everyone a choice of receiving a separate identity card, passport or both.

The first mini-competition, to identify which of the five suppliers (CSC, EDS, Fujitsu, IBM and Thales ) will support 3M-SPSL on the delivery of identity cards for airside workers, will start within the next month.