DWP looks to procure identity assurance services

The contract is worth an estimated £200m

The Department for Work and Pensions is looking to set up a framework of suppliers that will deliver identity assurance services.

The contract is worth £200m and will last four years.

These services will support customer services, including universal credits and personal independence payments.

An online contract notice said that identity assurance services will support the government's digital by default policy and also aims to increase digital uptake.

The service will have to provide identity assurance for approximately 21 million claimants of DWP services.

DWP is aiming to use identity assurance products already available in use in the private sector, rather than develop bespoke systems in house. The products will be available across different channels (web, phone and face to face).

The chosen provider will be charged with managing a user's identity assurance from issue to decommission.

The provider will also be responsible for identity correction services, and the contract notice states that it will be "managing and resolving customer and DWP-driven identity errors".

Identity data provided will be described in terms of a standardised data description, including names, gender, date of birth and address.

Providers for the service will be selected by June 2012 and systems will be fully operational from March 2013.