1Kosmos, Carahsoft Team with GSA to Enhance Login.gov Under $194.5M Agreement

1Kosmos and Carahsoft Technology Corporation have secured a blanket purchase agreement (BPA) with the U.S. General Services Administration to enhance Login.gov’s identity verification capabilities. The $194.5 million agreement aims to strengthen the platform’s compliance with Identity Assurance Level 2 (IAL2) standards through improved biometric authentication and mobile credentials.

The agreement follows Login.gov’s recent implementation of facial recognition technology for identity verification, which requires users to submit a live selfie matched against government-issued photo identification. This development addresses compliance challenges identified by the Government Accountability Office regarding Login.gov’s identity verification processes.

The technologies deployed under this BPA will include document capture, authentication, validation, and biometric comparison capabilities. These tools aim to improve verification success rates while maintaining accessibility for users from diverse backgrounds, including those with limited credit history or residing in rural areas.

The agreement is part of the NextGen Login.gov Identity Proofing BPA program, which includes eight selected companies providing identity verification services. The program spans ten years and represents part of GSA’s broader initiative to modernize federal digital identity infrastructure while maintaining compliance with National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) guidelines.

According to Hemen Vimadalal, CEO of 1Kosmos, the implementation will focus on balancing security requirements with user accessibility. The system will maintain privacy controls while expanding verification options to accommodate various user needs and technical capabilities.

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October 30, 2024 – by Ali Nassar-Smith