ActivIdentity Corporation, a provider of digital identity assurance, has collaborated with Probaris, Inc. and other key system partners to provide First Responder Authentication Credential (FRAC) identification cards for the Summer Breeze disaster preparedness demonstration. Co-hosted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Office of National Capital Region Coordination (NCRC) and Department of Defense (DoD) Pentagon Force Protection Agency (PFPA), Summer Breeze validated the capability of first responders from multiple jurisdictions to be rapidly authenticated, electronically, for both identity and the emergency support function (ESF) category as defined in the National Response Plan (NRP). The demonstration validated the ability to remove obstacles associated with ad hoc credentialing processes, including those experienced by emergency response personnel supporting the Pentagon during the September 11 terrorist attacks or the Hurricane Katrina aftermath. Summer Breeze serves as a significant milestone, which, going forward will provide first responders with a streamlined approach to accessing disaster sites.

FRAC leverages standards in technology and process to simplify validation for emergency response officials using public-key infrastructure (PKI) technology and handheld devices. ActivIdentity ActivID(TM) Card Management System (CMS), coupled with products and services from Probaris and other key system partners, are an integral part of the credentialing process.

"During a natural disaster, every second counts. Delays associated with authenticating first responders identities and associated qualifications can cost lives," said Craig Wilson, the first responder partnership coordinator with FEMA NCRC. "Protecting our nation is always our top priority. Our work with federal, non-federal, and industry partners underscores our commitment to ensuring that our nations emergency personnel have immediate access to a crisis situation, while maintaining the highest levels of security."

ActivIdentitys involvement in Summer Breeze is just one example of the companys contributions to government-identity assurance initiatives. ActivIdentity systems are used in the worlds largest smart-card deployment with the DoD and have also been chosen by government and law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom.

"ActivIdentitys participation in events such as Summer Breeze demonstrates the companys increasing penetration in the government market," said Jason Hart, CEO of ActivIdentity. "First responders have consistently struggled with gaining access to disaster sites, a problem that is driven by interoperability and credential-validation issues. By aligning with Probaris and other key system partners, ActivIdentity is delivering a complete authentication system designed to prevent unauthorized access to crisis situations, while streamlining entry for legitimate emergency contacts. In addition to the Summer Breeze demonstration, the company has been actively involved in several state-lead FRAC pilot projects. We look forward to continuing these efforts with first responders nationwide."

The Summer Breeze FRAC authentication system integrated products and services from ActivIdentity, Probaris and other key system partners to manage and facilitate issuance of secure credentials to approximately eighty participants of the Summer Breeze demonstration which was held at the Daughters of the American Revolution Constitution Hall in Washington, DC, on Thursday, July 19, 2007. The ActivIdentity ActivID(TM) CMS, which enables issuance and secure post-issuance life cycle management of cards, was used to issue the FRAC identification cards, while the Probaris ID solution verified the participants identity documents and collected fingerprints and a facial image.

"We embarked on this government credentialing project with the goal of creating a solution backed by partners with a proven expertise in satisfying the stringent requirements of the federal market, making ActivIdentity an ideal choice to satisfy our card-management needs," said Jim Bensman, CEO of Probaris. "The company has a strong expertise in servicing government projects, as demonstrated through the millions of cards it has successfully deployed through its work with the Department of Defense and other federal and state agencies."

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