L-1 Identity Solutions wins multi-million contract for Paraguay ID card and passport system

(02/04/2009)

Paraguay is establishing a new and more reliable system of personal identification, including the addition of fingerprints into identification records, to reduce instances of identity related crime and corruption. The system is expected to virtually eliminate duplicate cards and the issuance of fraudulent cards based on multiple or stolen identities, consequently dramatically reducing frauds, such as voter registration scams.

L-1 Identity Solutions, Inc. has been awarded a $5.4 million contract to provide software, services and credential supplies for Paraguay's new national identification card and passport system. The contract was awarded through L-1's Biometrics Division and includes solutions from the L-1 Secure Credentialing Division.

As part of the new system, L-1 is helping digitize historical ID files so that records can be shared more easily between the Motor Vehicles Registry, the Judiciary Court Records Registry and the Department of Identification of Persons Registry. L-1 also will provide TP4100 Live Scan devices for electronic fingerprint capture. L-1 solutions are based on the latest security technologies and will be utilized to produce more secure and tamper-proof credentials, including the Paraguayan ID card used for travel between bordering countries and the Paraguay passport used for travel to other countries.

Four enrollment centers, including one that also serves as a central production facility, will be opened across the country by L-1 and operated by the Paraguayan government. The centers will enable citizens to apply for new and as-needed replacements cards and passports produced using L-1's secure credentialing solutions. The L-1 technology will be deployed and centers are expected to be operational in the second quarter of 2009. L-1 will provide additional support for the programs through 2010.

"The ability to know for certain that a person is who he or she claims to be and that the ID card presented as proof of that identity is valid is paramount to the safety of every individual," said Robert V. LaPenta, Chairman, President and CEO of L-1 Identity Solutions. "We applaud the efforts of the Paraguayan government in working proactively to incorporate advanced security technologies into their ID programs to reduce the occurrence of identity-related fraud. We look forward to working with Paraguay on this important program."

The Biometrics Division of L-1 develops solutions that capture, manage and move biometric data for positive, rapid ID and tracking of persons of interest. The Secure Credentialing Division offers complete systems integration and solutions for the entire secure credential lifecycle, from testing through issuance and inspection. L-1 solutions are used in 29 countries for various citizen credentialing programs including voter registration, passports, National ID and others, as well as for producing the U.S. passport, U.S. Passport Card and Border Crossing Card. More than 30 million secure credentials are estimated to be produced annually with L-1 solutions.

Related topics:  Fingerprint biometrics   ID card 

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