Potential suppliers for the government's identity cards scheme are being invited to a series of workshops to help ensure a smooth purchasing process.

The four events are being run by IT industry trade association Intellect to help maintain a dialogue between the Home Office and vendors.

The four topics to be covered are: building consortia; examining the processes, technology and infrastructure required by organisations checking identity against the card; the application process; and security.

The procurement for the ID cards scheme is expected to start early next year, once the necessary legislation is passed by Parliament. The Home Office signed a £10m deal with PA Consulting in May (Computing, 26 May) for the 'client-side' work including developing the business case, hammering out the details of the scheme and helping run the main procurement once the detailed specification is written.

Precise details of what shape the scheme will take are yet to be released though it is rumoured that initial proposals are already with ministers for approval. Under the Home Office's preliminary timetable the first cards will be issued in 2007.

What do you think? Email feedback@computing.co.uk

If you want to be first with the news, visit Computing every day.