CRI to supply identity cards to Agriculture

Communications Resource Inc. will help deploy Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 smart cards at the Agriculture Department under a $50 million contract.

Under the follow-on contract, CRI will continue to support USDA's Office of Security Services with its homeland security program. The company will furnish administrative, operations and technical support in HSPD-12 implementation.

CRI also will provide critical infrastructure protection, continuity planning, information assurance, software design and support. The one-year contract has four one-year options.

President Bush issued HSPD-12 to ensure that federal employees and contractors use a standardized form of identification to enhance the security of federal facilities and protect government data. HSPD-12 smart cards verify identity and provide access to computer systems and networks.

CRI, of McLean, Va., is a technology and management consulting firm that serves federal, state and local governments.