Accenture Awarded TSA Contract for Identity Management and Credentialing System That Will Manage Millions of Transportation Workers
Accenture Federal Services, a subsidiary of consulting and technology services giant, Accenture, announced on Monday that it has received a five-year contract with a ceiling value of $250 million to create and manage a new identity management and credentialing system for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
According to the announcement, Accenture will work with the TSA to build a system to consolidate credentialing platforms to include case management and customer relations management. The resulting system will verify and manage millions of identities for those working at sensitive, secure areas throughout the U.S. transportation system.
“Transportation workers are dependent on a secure, timely and cost-effective credential to work at airports, sea ports and other sensitive transportation areas,” Accenture said in a statement. “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.”
Currently, 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 applicant, Accenture said.
The first system to be transitioned will be the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC). TWIC which is used to secure the nation’s maritime transportation system by using biographic and biometric identification credentials for those requiring unescorted access to secure areas of regulated facilities and vessels.
“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.