Oberthur Wins First GSA Contract for Issuance of Secure ID Smart Cards

Oberthur has started to issue the hybrid contact and contactless cards on behalf of the GSA to associates, contractors and visitors to government facilities across the country. This agreement further increases Oberthurs share of public sector ID card programs, which on completion could see cards issued to as many as 28 million government employees. Oberthur already has existing security and access contracts with the Department of Defense, the Department of State, TSA (TWIC) and the U.S. Treasury, among others. The contract was awarded to Oberthur via its partnership with XTec, a leader in secure, interoperable authentication and verifications systems. With its unique supply chain management expertise, from security printing, to smart card manufacturing and mass issuance, Oberthur is ideally positioned to fulfil the terms of the GSA agreement. The decision to centralize card issuance with Oberthur plays to one of the companys core strengths: Oberthur is the only company in the country capable of secure card issuance on a scale demanded by the U.S. Government. The agreement has the additional advantage of sparing the GSA from the need to invest resources in a specialized area. The cards are being personalized at Oberthurs Chantilly, VA, center, though the company can instantly shift production to the companys other sites in Los Angeles, CA, and Naperville, IL, if needed. Because of Oberthurs extensive expertise in security, from printing techniques to FIPS-certified smart card operating systems with strong cryptographic capabilities, the company was also able to incorporate various anti-counterfeit technologies in the ID cards. The highest levels of authentication are guaranteed by the use of biometric information, including photographs and fingerprints, and by a Personal Information Number (PIN).