Bidders selected for two key ID cards contracts

Final shortlists bring controversial programme closer

Biometric ID cards are coming

The government is moving closer to awarding two key contracts for the roll out of ID cards.

The Identity and Passport Service (IPS) has announced final shortlists for the "Card Design & Production" and "Application & Enrolment" systems.

Fujitsu, IBM and Thales are rivals for the former deal, while CSC and Fujitsu go head to head on the latter.

Earlier this year, the government announced that five companies had been chosen to bid for various packages of work on the ID cards and National Identity Register schemes - IBM, Fujitsu, Computer Sciences Corporation, EDS and Thales.

For each aspect of the programme, the five suppliers will compete to win individual contracts.

"Following detailed negotiations, final tenders will be submitted for these contracts as well as for the 'Passport Design and Production' and 'National Biometric Identity Service' procurements," said an IPS statement.

All the contracts are expected to be awarded during 2009.