Symantec Tokens

The U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid (FSA) is seeking to procure an additional 15,000 Symantec Validation & ID Protection (VIP) hardware security tokens to replace aging and defective units currently in use. These tokens serve as a critical component of the two-factor authentication process, providing a unique identifier known only to FSA authentication services and authorized users, thus enhancing security when accessing systems containing sensitive Personally Identifiable Information (PII). The procurement aims to ensure continued protection of FSA networks by maintaining a reliable inventory of these security credentials. The contract solicitation, numbered EDOFSA-15-000856 and posted on September 9, 2015, specifies that the place of performance is Washington, DC, with contacts designated for contracting and contract specialist roles available for communication. This effort falls under the NAICS code 443142, which relates to electronic shopping, indicating the technology-focused nature of the purchase. The main objective is to uphold stringent security standards for FSA’s IT infrastructure by using hardware tokens that verify user identity and prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data.