GPO shops for better smart card printing capabilities

The Government Printing Office wants to improve its smart card delivery capabilities with more technology.GPO wants electronic card counters and printers for smart card personalization and personal identification numbers, software and computer systems for processing customer data for card issuance, and integration and consulting services to support acquisitions.GPO published its intentions in a request for proposals on the Federal Business Opportunities Web site May 11.The agency also said the new equipment and services must create cards that conform to Federal Information Processing Standard 201.These efforts are part of GPO’s push to establish what it calls a smart card personalization operation. This operation would provide smart card credentials for all three branches of the government.A GPO representative said the agency expects to fill the contract and provide the new services to the office’s Washington, D.C., bureau late this summer.GPO already publishes electronic documents such as e-passports. In December 2006, the office published its 1 millionth e-passport.