ACCC seeks advice on companies angling for Digital ID work

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is inviting sellers to quote for the provision of ad-hoc, specialist advice on evidence supplied by entities seeking accreditation under the Digital ID Accreditation Scheme and/or approval to participate in the Australian Government Digital ID System.

The Digital ID allows verification of an ID online for work, education and personal use, but does not replace physical ID documents.

Sellers will be required to provide advice on cyber security, information systems, and biometrics in relation to the plans, procedures, and assessments of entities under the Digital ID Act 2024 and its rules and data standards.

This advice will be delivered through a report, detailing the opinion of the seller as to whether the evidence is in alignment with industry best practices, relevant standards, and corresponding legislative requirements, as well as whether the evidence is consistent with other evidence nominated by the ACCC.

Examples of the kinds of evidence that the sellers may be required to provide advice on include protective security assessments; cyber security risk assessments; penetration testing reports; system security plans; event logging implementation and monitoring plans; disaster recovery and business continuity plans; and biometric testing report, including presentation attack detection testing.

The estimated start date of the opportunity is 2 February 2026, with an initial contract duration of six months and two twelve month extension terms also possible.

The request for quote - issued under the Digital Marketplace Panel 2, which recently allowed new sellers to apply and existing sellers to apply for additional categories - closes on 7 December 2025 at 11:59pm ACT time.

In the recently released techpartner.news State of Channel Security report's chapter on digital identity, it was noted that while government agencies have participated in the Australian Government digital ID system as a “relying service” since last December, private organisations including technology partners will be admitted from December next year.

In this year's NSW state budget, $15.4 million was allocated to “strengthen the NSW government's identity proofing and credential issuing processes through building an internationally interoperable NSW Digital ID and Wallet.”