Field Fisher Waterhouse advises on National Identity Service procurements with a value in excess of £½ billion
11 May 2009
Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP has advised the Identity and
Passport Service (IPS) on two significant contracts which form part
of the National Identity Service, one of the largest civil IT
procurement programmes in UK government. The two ten year contracts
were awarded to Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) and IBM and
have an estimated value of £385 million and £265 million pounds
respectively.
CSC, a global provider of technology solutions and services, was
awarded the contract to replace and upgrade IPS’ application and
enrolment system for the processing of all UK passports. IBM was
awarded the contract to deliver a new secure database for storing
biometric information.
CSC will be responsible for providing a new system for
processing applications for both passports and ID cards. The
company will also implement online application channels, improved
background checking of applications and support for customers
updating personal data.
IBM will be responsible for providing a database to store the
fingerprint and facial biometrics of applicants for passports and
ID cards. It will also supply a replacement for an existing
database system which holds biometrics collected from visa
applicants.
Paul Barton and Marcus Turle,
partners in Field Fisher Waterhouse’s Technology Law Group, advised IPS on the two
contracts. Paul led a team of six on the contract with
CSC. Both Paul and Marcus led on the contract with IBM, again
supported by a team of six lawyers. On both contracts,
additional advice was provided by teams from across the firm,
including procurement law advice
(partners, Charles Whiddington and
Nick Pimlott), employment advice (partner, James Warren) and pensions advice (partner, David Gallagher).
Field Fisher Waterhouse has a leading technology practice, with
a track record in working on large scale, public sector technology
projects of this kind. The firm has been advising the Home Office
and the Identity and Passport Service on the implementation of the
National Identity Service since 2004 with the procurement process
for these particular projects starting in 2007.
Paul Barton, Field Fisher Waterhouse said: “We are delighted to
have advised on these two contracts, which will bring large scale
deployment of ID cards and more secure passports a step
closer.”
Two further contracts for the design and production of passports
and identity cards are due to be signed later this year.
Both CSC and IBM were advised by their in-house legal teams.
For further press information please
contact:
Louise Eckersley, PR Manager,
Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP on 020 7861 4120.