The U.S. Department of State announced it has placed a $6.3 million order for high-speed printers to be used in its two passport production mega-centers, one of which is due to open in April at 7333 E. Rosewood St., in the Gateway Center.
The printers were ordered from L-1 Identity Solutions Inc., Stamford, Conn., the exclusive provider of passport personalization for the State Department and the sole provider of the federal government’s visa issuance system.
|
|
L-1 says the printers will be capable of producing the 22 million passports the State Department expects to produce this year for American citizens. In addition to the Tucson center, Stanley Inc., opened a similar one in October in Hot Springs, Ark. Both operate under a 10-year contract with the government.
The passport production mega-centers will increase the government’s ability produce passport. The State Department says its 17 domestic passport agencies will now electronically transmit approved applications to the mega-centers, which are dedicated solely to printing and mailing out large quantities of passports. This allows the agencies to focus on customer service and adjudicating more passport applications.
Comments