Govt to extend MRP deal with British firm

The government is likely to extend its current deal with a British firm for extra 5 million machine readable passport (MRP) booklets and 5.5 million lamination foils.

The Department of Immigration and Passport (DIP) under the Ministry of Home Affairs has moved a proposal to the Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase in this regard.

The DIP will amend its existing deal with the firm, De La Rue, after getting approval from the cabinet body.

The British firm would supply additional MRP booklets and lamination foils at a cost of $11.49 million, said the sources.

The De La Rue was appointed through a tender process in 2013 for supply of a total 15 million MRP booklets and 15 million lamination foils at a cost of about $33 million.

But most of the MRP booklets and lamination foils have already been used for issuing passports and now only 1.5 million booklets and 1.3 million lamination fouls are now in stocks of the DIP.

"The stock may meet this months' demand" said an official referring to the proposal moved for the Cabinet body.

The official mentioned that the government has already initiated a move to introduce e-passport.

"But until the e-passport is launched, the current MRP will be required to issue for the passport users," according to the official, says UNB.

In such a situation, the Ministry of Home Affairs seeks to extend the current deal with under a provision of repeat order where the cost was proposed to be half of the previous MRP booklets and lamination foil, said the sources.