Accenture: Contract Awarded for Identity Management and Credentialing System

By Rob Starr, Content Manager, Big4.com

Accenture Federal Services  has received a five-year contract from the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to create identity management and credentialing system processes to verify and manage millions of identities for those working at sensitive, secure areas throughout the U.S. transportation system.

The first program to be transitioned will be the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC). TWIC is used to secure the nation’s maritime transportation system by providing biographic and biometric identification credentials, such as fingerprints, for personnel requiring unescorted access to secure areas of regulated facilities and vessels.

Transportation workers are dependent on a secure, timely and cost-effective credential to work at airports, sea ports and other sensitive transportation areas. The new system aims to provide a customer-friendly enrollment function, creating a system that allows TSA to streamline the credentialing process for applicants through a single channel.

Multiple programs exist to issue credentials and manage identities today for transportation workers, including workers at airports, driver’s licenses to transport hazardous materials and separate identifications for maritime workers.

This new process will consolidate these programs into one system over time, improve credentialing for new and existing transportation sector workers, increase consistency of information across multiple programs and provide improved customer service to applicants.

“This new identity management and card production capability tool will connect people and information to help facilitate secure travel and trade,” said Ken Lawhorn, who leads Accenture’s work at TSA.