PIV-I stands for Personal Identity Verification – Interoperable. A PIV-I ID refers to a credential issued to non-federal personnel (such as contractors, state/local government employees, or affiliated organizations) that meets certain technical standards to interoperate with the federal government's PIV (Personal Identity Verification) systems.

Key Characteristics of PIV-I ID:

1. Interoperability with Federal Systems:
   PIV-I credentials are designed to be technically compatible with the federal PIV infrastructure, including authentication systems, card readers, and logical access tools.
2. Non-Federal Issuers:
   PIV-I cards are issued by non-federal organizations that have established trust with federal agencies, but they are not issued by the federal government itself.
3. Standards-Based:
   PIV-I credentials follow the same or similar technical standards as federal PIV cards (e.g., those defined by NIST SP 800-73, FIPS 201, etc.), but with some flexibility for issuer-specific policies.
4. Use Cases:
• Access to federal buildings and networks by contractors or partners
• Trusted identity for cross-organization collaboration
• Mobile derived credentials or FIDO2 extensions based on PIV-I identity
5. Trust Frameworks:
   PIV-I issuers may be part of a federated identity trust framework, such as the Federal Bridge Certification Authority (FBCA), ensuring their certificates are trusted by federal relying parties.