Senate seeks industry input for portable ID system

The Senate is seeking vendors to help it establish a portable credentialing and identification system that will produce photo ID badges linked to a database containing information about the badge holder.

In a presolicitation notice Tuesday the Senate Sergeant at Arms said vendors must respond by Jan. 5 and specify how they will create the portable ID system and establish and maintain a database that can be accessed and modified as needed.

Vendors must provide programming and customization services for tailoring the system to the Senate's requirements and provide all support and training. The Senate wants a portable system that can be easily transported to Senate office buildings.

In a separate notice, the Senate also is seeking information from vendors about whether any commercially available products exist that can automate constituent services, such as handling electronic and postal mail, for its members.

The products, the Senate said, must be able to receive, record and track communications from member constituents via e-mail, postal mail, fax and telephone.

They also must provide support for members' Capitol Hill and regional offices, which are primarily run on Microsoft Corp.'s Windows 2000 or higher systems and Apple Computer Inc.'s Mac OS. Submissions are due Jan. 16.

Rob Thormeyer is a staff writer for Washington Technology's sister publication, Government Computer News.