# Presentation: 148719

## ACES Access Certificates forElectronic Services

**ACES**** ****Access Certificates for****Electronic Services**

**Notes:**
WELCOME
Today I will be talking to you about the Access Certificates for Electronic Services contract, referred to as ACES.

## What is ACES?

**What is ACES?**

**Access Certificates for Electronic Services (ACES) provides the American Public secure electronic access to privacy related Federal Government information and services through the use of public key technology**
**Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is the combination of software,encryption technologies, and services that enables enterprises to protect the security of their communications and electronic business transactions**

**Notes:**
The focus of the ACES contract is to ensure security in any type of electronic transaction.

This will allow for improved secure electronic access to information and services from the Federal government.

This is accomplished through the use of Public Key Infrastructure.  

## What is ACES? (continued)

**A digital certificate is an electronic “passport” that establishes your credentials when doing business or other transactions electronically**
**Contains a name, a serial number, expiration dates, a copy of the certificate holder's public key and the digital signature of the certificate-issuing authority so that a recipient can verify that the certificate is real**
**Protects data exchanged electronically from theft or tampering**
**Virtually impossible to forge**
**Provides a high level of security**

**Notes:**
A digital certificate is a critical part of the Public Key Infrastructure.

It holds all the information necessary to verify the holder’s identity.

A digital certificate is nearly impossible to forge and provides the highest level of security.

## What is ACES? (continued)

**PKI protects information assets in many different ways:**
**Authentication—Digital certificates issued as a part of PKI allow (you) to confidently validate the identity of each party in an electronic transaction**
**Access Control—PKI digital certificates replace easily guessed and frequently lost user IDs and passwords to streamline log-in security**

**Data Integrity—A digital certificate ensures that the message or document the certificate “signs” has not been changed or corrupted during electronic transfer**
**Technical Non-repudiation—Digital certificates validate their users’ identities, making it nearly impossible to later deny a digitally “signed” transaction, such as a purchase made on a web site**
**Confidentiality—Digital certificates protect information from interception during electronic transmission**

**Notes:**
Let’s talk some more about PKI and how it uses digital certificates to protect information as it travels electronically from place to place.

A digital certificate will allow you to authenticate the identity of the user.  In other words, you can verify that people, web sites, and even network resources such as routers are truly who or what they say they are.

It  will allow you to control access to systems, information, etc. in a more secure way than simply using passwords or user Ids.

## Customer Solutions

**Customer Solutions**

**Provides government agencies with the capability to authenticate electronic digital signature services utilizing secure e-commerce**
**Ensures the privacy of electronic transactions**
**Validates identity**
**Protects integrity of information**
**Simplifies process of data exchange**
**Facilitates public access to government services and information**

**Notes:**
Here are some solutions that ACES can provide to the customer through the use of this technology.

Again, this technology will provide government agencies the ability to make use of secure e-commerce.

It ensures privacy and confidentiality in transactions, and validates the identity of the users.

In addition, the integrity of information is protected and the process of data exchange is simplified.

This allows the government the ability to be more accessible to the public.

## Benefits of Aces for the Customer

**Offers the ability to benefit from the speed and immediacy of electronic transactions while protecting business-critical information from interception, tampering, and unauthorized access**
**Affords the capability to provide more personalized services and accept various kinds of document filings electronically**
**Enables secure communication with employees in other locations**
**Provides for exchange of confidential data**
**Reduces government operating costs through the implementation of electronic business processes**

**Notes:**
ACES provides many benefits to the customer.

In  utilizing the ACES contract, you can feel secure in knowing that all your electronic transactions are safe and confidential.

It allows you the freedom to use electronic services without worry.

It allows open, secure communication with remote employees.

## Benefits of Contracting with ACES

**GSA provides the Certificate Arbitrator Module (CAM), a tool for easing PKI integration**
**Provides a government-wide Public Key Infrastructure**
**Provides auxiliary services that participating agencies may need to use the Public Key Infrastructure**
**Ensures agency retains control**
**Reduces costs by combining government requirements**
**Provides all PKI support services**

**Notes:**
The ACES contract provides other benefits as well.

In contracting with ACES, all services needed to put the Public Key Infrastructure in place are available to you.

Access to any ACES-enabled electronic process is always controlled by the owning agency.  The agency determines access based on certificate status and identity.  The agency retains the right to deny access at any time.

Government requirements can be combined to reduce the total cost to the agency

Supplemental/auxiliary PKI services include:
Needs Analysis
Risk Assessment
Application Development
System Integration (PKI Integration)

## Description of the ACES Contract

**Indefinite-Delivery, Indefinite-Quantity Government-Wide Acquisition Contract**
**Base period of 3 years with one 3 year option (September 1999 - September 2005)**
**Ceiling of $600 million**
**Performance based, Multiple Award Schedule contract**
**Requirements are task order competed for Best Value Award**
**Firm Fixed Price and Time & Materials task orders**
**No-cost, no-obligation proposals**
**No minimum order amount**

**Notes:**
Any agency authorized to use a Government-wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) can use this contract.

ACES is a multiple award schedule contract with a three year base period and one three year option period.  It was originally awarded in September 1999.

Task orders are awarded on a best value basis - best technical solution, lowest cost, and highest quality service.

## The Industry Partners

**AT&T Corporation****Contact Tim Hurr at 703-691-5352****timhurr@att.com**
**Digital Signature Trust Company****Contact Keren Cummins at 301-921-5977****kcummins@trustdst.com**
**Operational Research Consultants, Inc.****Contact Michael Boorom at 703-246-8551**** booromm@orc.com**

**Notes:**
Here are our Industry Partners that hold the ACES contract and the associated point of contact information.