15 August, 2002
category: Contactless, Education, Government
Business Editors & High-Tech Writers
HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Aug. 12, 2002–Schlumberger (NYSE:SLB), a global technology services company, today announced it has been selected as a supplier of middleware, through its DeXa.Badge(a) information security offering, for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Common Access Card (CAC) program. This contract is also part of the DoD Enterprise Software Initiative (ESI).
According to the contract terms, Schlumberger is awarded an estimated $9.3 million multiple-award, firm-fixed-priced, indefinite-delivery and indefinite-quantity contract for the purchase of Schlumberger CACTUS middleware, including software licenses, media and maintenance, to function with the Common Access Card, part of the DoD access and identity management system.
The CAC is the government’s largest public-key infrastructure deployment. Identity cards with a microchip containing digital certificates, commonly known as smart cards, will be issued to all active duty civilian and military personnel by year-end 2003. Smart cards rely on middleware, which is a specific, standards-compliant software and/or Application Programming Interface (API) that allows an application running on a computer device to communicate with the Integrated Circuit Chip on the smart card to read, write and transfer objects such as digital certificates or employee identification data.
Schlumberger, a leader in smart card standards and system interoperability, is the only CAC vendor to provide middleware for both the Linux and Microsoft Windows(R) environments. With this unique multi-operating system support, the DoD can now extend CAC smart card deployment to non-Windows users.
“The DoD has been aggressive about leveraging the security and efficiencies of the smart card,” said Paul Stewart, vice president, Marketing & Technique, Schlumberger Network & Infrastructure Solutions. “Schlumberger has a unique IT legacy as one of the world’s first and largest developers of information security technologies, and this contract for middleware complements our delivery of the Schlumberger smart cards and readers to the DoD begun in 2001.”
Schlumberger began deploying security solutions for the DoD in September 2001, and by June 2002 had already delivered over one million smart cards as part of the CAC program. The readers are also an integral part of Schlumberger security solutions, serving as the link between users and networks. The U.S. Army is using the SchlumbergerSema Reflex(a) 72, Reflex USB and Reflex 20 PCMCIA readers, which in combination with smart cards and middleware enable secure network access and e-mail signature and encryption on desktop and portable PCs, as well as secure building access, through smart card contact-less authentication technology.
The Department of Defense contract covers a three-year period. Orders placed may reach a cumulative value from a minimum of $25,000 to a maximum of $26,000,000 toward any DoD CAC middleware purchases. Any DoD organization can order Schlumberger CACTUS(a) middleware under this contract, which was awarded through the Naval Inventory Control Point, Mechanicsburg, PA (N00104-02-D-Q668). Orders may begin upon completion of JITC testing, expected in mid-September 2002.
About the DoD Enterprise Software Initiative
The DoD Enterprise Software Initiative (ESI) is a joint initiative to maximize DoD buying power and take advantage of the significant cost savings and management efficiencies that result from acquiring and managing commercially available software on a DoD-wide basis. The ESI is an approved initiative under the DoD Business Initiative Council (BIC). Additional information about the ESI can be located at www.don-imit.navy.mil/esi.
About Schlumberger
Schlumberger is a global technology services company consisting of two business segments, Schlumberger Oilfield Services and SchlumbergerSema. Schlumberger Oilfield Services supplies technology services and solutions to the international petroleum industry. SchlumbergerSema aggregates IT consulting, systems integration, managed services and related products to the telecommunications, energy and utilities, finance, transport and public sector markets. Both business segments offer the Schlumberger DeXa(a) Suite of Services to provide IP network connectivity, information security solutions, distributed computing support services and data center hosting services. In 2001, Schlumberger revenues were $13.7 billion. For more information visit http://www.slb.com/.
CONTACT: Schlumberger, Houston Stephanie Nelson, 713/439-4361 E-mail: [email protected]
