NIST created the NIST Personal Identity Validation Program (NPIVP) in response to a Presidential Directive, HSPD 12. This mandated a government-wide standard for secure and reliable forms of identification issued by the Federal Government to its employees and contractors.

The Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 201-1 entitled "Personal Identity Verification of Federal Employees and Contractors" was developed to satisfy the requirements of HSPD 12 by "defining a reliable, government-wide PIV system".

In order to further define the program and its components, NIST Special Publication 800-73-2, "Interfaces for Personal Identity Verification" was released. This document details the interface and data elements of the PIV card.

In order to verify that the various PIV components are performing as outlined in the above documents, NIST created Special Publication 800-85A-1, "PIV Middleware and PIV Card Application Conformance Test Guidelines (SP800-73-2 compliance)." This document specifies testing guidance for both PIV readers and PIV cards. NIST then accredited NPIVP Test Facilities to test PIV Middleware and PIV Card Applications and ensure they are in fact meeting the requirements as set forth in FIPS 201-1 and SP800-73-2, by testing under the guidelines set in SP 800-85A-1. ICSA Labs is accredited as an NPIVP test facility under the NVLAP lab code 200697-0. Under this designation, ICSA Labs will accept middleware and/or card application from Vendors for testing under the FIPS 201 program.

For additional information about ICSA Labs' PIV Program or to schedule testing, please email us, or call:

Harry Brittain    Senior Account Executive                   717.790.8111

Dick Buehler     Senior Account Executive                   717.790.8112
Mike Haas         Vendor Services Account Executive   717.790.8161

Steve Ratcliffe   CST Lab Manager                               717.790.8127