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UK National ID cards: Procurement Process Begins... Will you bid?

We don't yet know if the UK government will select a card manufacturing company to produce our ID Cards and handle fulfillment, or if desktop card printers will be purchased, to serve either a centralised or decentralised solution.

Please let me know directly if you are going to attend the bidder's conference on the 14th September in London. Eagle Technologies Ltd will also be attending and wishes to engage in varying partnerships. We will admit first hand that if desktop card printers are commissioned, we’d like to be the hardware and consumables distributor/support services agent. With this in mind you will find us very supportive and quick to react in order to support our common goal.

Just before I go, you will see I have listed some useful links. I advise you to read the article first (below)...

• Tender Electronic Daily (TED)
• eSourcing Portal If your organisation wishes to participate in this procurement and has not already registered with BravoSolution, you should register for the service following these instructions: Browse to the eSourcing Portal:

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best regards

Chris Rayner
Managing Director
Eagle Technologies Ltd

Outline of the National Identity Scheme
The National Identity Scheme has been simplified since it was proposed in 2003. The cards will hold fingerprint and photographic information, but will not initially carry other biometric data, such as iris scans.

ID cards will be issued to non-EU nationals living in the UK next year, and British citizens will be issued with cards from 2009.

Rewards and risks
Procurement for the National Identity Scheme (officially announced in an OJEU Contract Notice on 9 August) potentially represents one of the most lucrative state tenders ever, and is expected to attract interest from a range of players. But it also carries substantial risks for bidders.

The use of a framework agreement (described below) means that interested parties are effectively bidding to bid. The Contract Notice also gives the government flexibility to switch between suppliers for different parts of the projects, and it has been reported in the press that some contracts will be for just 12-month terms.

The bidders can also expect robust provisions in the contracts, such as significant penalties for failing to meet expected service levels.

A further risk is political opposition. The Conservative Party has contacted suppliers to warn them that the scheme will be scrapped should the Conservatives win the next general election. This could lead to long-term contracts being called off years early.

Range of services
The first two proposed projects under the framework agreement are application and enrolment processing for passports and identity cards, and fingerprint matching and storage.

The Contract Notice states that other services may be purchased in the future, including biometric recording and storage, biographical background checking and the production and distribution of passports and ID cards.

Outsourcing service providers will be competing to provide business process and IT outsourcing, and systems and business integration services.

Framework agreement
The tender will proceed by a 'competitive dialogue' procedure. It is a sophisticated procurement process, and the government will not initially be contracting directly for the services. Instead, a framework agreement will be put in place, with a maximum of 6 participants. Individual projects, which could last up to 10 years each, will then be called off against the framework.

Each project will be procured through a mini-competition between the suppliers who have signed up to the framework agreement. With only a small number of players eligible to bid for these contracts, the big IT service companies have been putting together consortia of biometrics companies to enable them to deliver the various aspects of the scheme.

For smaller or niche service providers, work on the projects will be won by bidding to the large service providers selected under the framework, rather than getting involved directly in the government procurement process.

Next steps
The Home Office is hosting a bidders’ conference in London on 14 September. Potential bidders then have until 21 September to request documents, and must submit their request to participate by 28 September.

Article courtesy of Yuban Moodley. Partner, Technology and Sourcing (London)

Eagle Technologies Ltd remains the UK's only "trade only" multi-brand desktop card printer product distributor providing all leading card printer and consumables brands, plastic cards, badge holders/lanyards, in/out of warranty repair solutions (including onsite services), card badging software, and a comprehensive bureau card personalisation and fulfillment offering.

We sell only to resellers and add value by providing a variety of services. Our mission is to grow the business of resellers across the UK & Europe by providing the services and tools which make them more efficient, effective and successful. For example, save money, make money and improve your online presence with an eShop friendly product managed and fully maintained card printer website from www.Complete-ID.com From only £997 per year and live within just a few days!

Eagle customers have access to the industry's leading vendors, one of UK's largest product inventories, and the broadest range of value-added services available. There is only one focused trade only provider in the UK, Europe & Now the USA!

www.EagleTechnologies.co.uk T: +44 (0) 1344 303 700 F: +44 (0) 1344 303 701

www.Complete-ID.com www.Revolution.Complete-ID.com

ENDS

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