On February 10, the Ministry of Internal Affairs held a session to open the proposals for the Public-Private Partnership Program for the Infrastructure for Issuing Biometric Passports and Identification Cards in the Republic of Armenia.
The Minister of Internal Affairs, Chairwoman of the Evaluation Committee Arpine Sargsyan, members of the committee, and representatives of the consortiums were present.
By the 2024 Government Resolution, a new biometric system will be introduced in the republic from 2026, and citizens will be provided with new passports and identification cards.
The Evaluation Committee noted that the content of the submitted applications meets the requirements of the Request for Proposals and the PPP procedure, and the applications are subject to evaluation.
The deadline for accepting applications within the framework of the new infrastructure implementation program was February 7. Of the three candidates who passed the qualification stage in March-April of last year, two internationally renowned companies submitted applications: the German AUGENTIC GmbH and Imprensa Nacional – Casa da Moeda, S.A. and the French IDEMIA Identity & Security France SAS and A.C.I. Technology S.à.r.l. consortiums.
The evaluation will last until March 30, and the name of the winning bidder will be announced on March 31, after which the contract will be finalized, signed, and work on introducing a new infrastructure will begin: a new server economy, software solutions, new printing equipment and modern technologies.
In 2026, the production of biometric documents with high European standards will begin, which is also a significant step in the context of visa liberalization.
