Bidders quit ID card programme
Two major contractors have abandoned the procurement process for the proposed National ID card and database. Accenture and BAE were both on the long list of suppliers for the £5.4 billion project.
The Home Office has stated that the remaining bidders are still committed to the scheme, but rumours in the IT industry say that Government delays in committing to the ID card have caused frustration.
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It was recently revealed that the rollout of compulsory cards for all British citizens would be delayed by two years until 2012, missing the 2010 milestone which had previously been claimed to be critical.
Confidence in the programme appears to be declining fast, especially in the light of the public sector data losses revealed at year's end. The Information Commissioner Richard Thomas has raised concerns about the Government's ability to operate a national ID database securely.
The Government has claimed that the successful launch of the Ukvisas project now represents the first stage of the ID programme. A good news push seems very likely to try and keep remaining suppliers involved in the
tendering process.