GSA seeks data about portable ID system

Vendors have until Wednesday to provide the government with information about existing, planned and feasible designs for a portable handheld device that can verify ID credentials in harsh environments.

The General Services Administration is seeking information on these products to help agencies meet identity credentialing standards under Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 and Federal Information Processing Standard 201.

The devices will support several government military and first-responder programs, according to the notice, including the Defense Manpower Data Center's Defense Biometric Identification System and Noncombatant Evacuation Tracking System, and the Homeland Security Department's National Capital Region First Responders Program as well as programs at the Environmental Protection Agency.

Products must run on Windows CE and be able to read the new Personal Identity Verification credentials.

Also, the products must carry applications customized for particular agencies to meet their needs, the notice said.

"Examples of the complementary applications include physical security, incident command, victim management, hazardous sample management and resource tracking," the notice said.

Vendors responding to the notice must provide information about their devices' characteristics and technical specifications, anticipated changes to their products, the month and year the products could be available, and how long the company has been in business.

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