From the Editor: TWIC progress is another indicator of industry progress
26 August, 2004
category: Biometrics, Government, Library, Transit
The long awaited announcement of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) RFP award was made this month. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) awarded the U.S. $12 million contract for the project’s “prototype phase” to BearingPoint.
TWIC is another in the line of initiatives borne—or energized—after September 11 aimed at strengthening identity management processes. Specifically, TWIC will help in the authentication of maritime, rail, aviation, and ground transport workers at an array of facilities.
The cards will include a biometric template stored on a contactless card for rapid and secure identification of the cardholder.
The Prototype Phase will include issuance of 150,000 credentials to truckers, longshoremen, container terminal personnel, and airport personnel. Involvement in this phase is voluntary and will be conducted in three distinct test regions: Camden, N.J., Islip, N.Y., Philadelphia, Pa., and Wilmington, Del.; the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, Calif.; and the 14 major port facilities in the state of Florida.
This is great news for the secure ID industry because it shows real progress is being made. The discussions, the planning, the technology evaluations are done and actual test implementations are being made. And not just with TWIC but with e-passport technologies, agency IDs and more.
Industry is delivering the products that agencies are seeking and agencies are beginning to make good on the promise of large-scale orders and deployments. We are heading a great direction and it just so happens to be the right direction as well.
Chris Corum
Executive Editor
Secure ID News