GSA ups smart-card distribution

The General Services Administration has increased to 18,000 from 14,000 the number of smart cards it will issue to its employees and contractors working in buildings it owns or leases.

The agency will also offer smart cards to tenants of these buildings, a GSA spokesman said.

According to GSA, the agency has incorporated standard safeguards, such as holographs, ultraviolet light and microprinting, to prevent the cards from being duplicated.

GSA's smart cards also are interoperable with smart cards issued by other federal agencies, such as the State Department and the Transportation Security Administration.