A procurement process has been launched for companies capable of delivering a digital identity system for Bermuda.

The Government issued a request for supplier qualifications, stated that the Government intended to procure a digital identity platform through a “single-provider public-private partnership model”.

Published on October 5, the notice said: “The successful supplier will be responsible for the design, implementation, operation, maintenance and ongoing support of the digital identity ecosystem, while the Government retains responsibility for policy, governance, regulatory oversight and strategic direction.

“The programme is intended to deliver a secure, privacy-by-design digital identity capability for residents and support trusted access to public and private sector services.

“The procurement is being conducted on the basis that the solution will evolve through a phased implementation approach and may ultimately become a critical component of Bermuda’s national digital infrastructure.”

Documents included with the notice said that the Government was seeking a qualified provider to deliver an ecosystem that would enable residents to verify their identity and access public and private sector services through a “trusted digital credential and digital wallet”.

The documents added: “The solution will support identity proofing, credential issuance, authentication, attribute sharing, fraud prevention, cybersecurity and life cycle management, while complying with Bermuda’s legal, privacy and cybersecurity requirements.

“The provider will also be responsible for establishing the supporting technical, operational, governance, integration, stakeholder engagement and legislative enablement frameworks necessary to deliver a resilient, scalable and inclusive national identity service that improves service delivery, strengthens regulatory compliance and supports Bermuda’s long-term digital transformation objectives.”

The deadline for submissions is 10am on November 27.

The notice was published days after Jason Hayward, the Minister of Economy and Labour, told the House of Assembly that exploratory work had begun to determine if a digital identity framework could provide “meaningful benefits” for Bermuda.

He said that it was important for the Government to consider how residents and businesses will interact with modernised public services and greater digital transformation of the economy, and a digital identity was a tool being considered.

The Government’s fintech strategy, published in March, said that the Bermuda Monetary Authority was in the final stages of assessing digital identity service providers for the island’s fintech industry.

However, in a letter to stakeholders in August, the body said the responses it received had raised questions about cost, demand and whether customers and businesses would adopt the technology.