Accenture to provide identity management and credentialing system for TSA

The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has awarded a contract to Accenture Federal Services to create identity management and credentialing system.

Under the five-year $250m contract, Accenture will develop system identity management and credentialing system processes to validate and manage millions of sensitive, secure areas workers identities throughout the US transportation system.

Combined with credentialing platforms such as case management and customer relations management, the system is intended to provide a customer-friendly enrollment function by enabling TSA to streamline the credentialing process for applicants through a single channel.

Transportation workers are dependent on a secure, timely and cost-effective credential to work at airports, sea ports and other sensitive transportation areas.

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

Multiple programmes have been initiated to provide credentials and manage transportation workers identities including at airports, driver’s licenses to transport hazardous materials and separate identifications for maritime workers.

In later stages, the new process will consolidate these programmes into a single system to enhance credentialing for workers of new and existing transportation sector as well as increase information across multiple programmes consistency with improved customer service to applicants.

The transportation worker identification credential (TWIC) will be the programme to be transitioned in the new process.

Designed to secure the nation’s maritime transportation system, TWIC provides biographic and biometric identification credentials which include as fingerprints, for personnel requiring unescorted access to secure areas of regulated facilities and vessels.