BearingPoint, formerly KPMG Consulting, has been selected by the US Department of Defense (DoD) Biometrics Management Office (BMO) to evaluate the use of biometrics on contactless cards. The evaluation is to test the viability of secure access to military facilities via a biometric indicator and a contactless chip on the Common Access Card (CAC).

The CAC is the U.S. military ID card that will ultimately be issued to more than 4 million active-duty, selected reserve, and civilian employees/contractors. To date, more than one-million CACs have been issued. These cards contain a contact chip but future orders will include a contactless chip as well. Project leaders are initiating pilot trials of ISO 14443 Type A contactless technology in preparation for full rollout.

BearingPoint was awarded the $1.2 million contract and is scheduled to report on project findings in just 90 days. Other participants in the project include SPYRUS, Inc., SAFLINK Corporation, Precise Biometrics, XTec, NetVersant, and Datastrip. The team will provide development, training, testing, and post-delivery support to the Department of Defense’ Biometric Working Group, Biometrics Management Office, and Biometrics Fusion Center.