Kathmandu, June 6 -- Two German security printing companies-Veridos GmbH and Muehlbauer ID Service Gmb-have won the new e-passport contract, ending the domination of the French firm IDEMIA Identity and Security France SAS for a decade and half. The Department of Passports on Thursday issued letters of intent to award the two contract packages to the pair of Germany-based companies.

"It is to notify that it is our intent to award the contract for execution of eMRTDS system including pre-enrolment, enrolment, data management and delivery system (package I) to you as your bid price NRs 1,550,814,325.81 equivalent to USD 11,154,834.41 plus Rs738, 536.20 as corrected and modified in accordance with the instructions to bidders is selected as s...