WA signs IaaS contracts with Atos, Datacom and NEC

The Western Australian government has signed whole-of-government infrastructure as a service (IaaS) contracts with three core suppliers under the GovNext-ICT program.

The contracts with Atos, Datacom and NEC have a five-year term with an optional five-year extension.

The agreements involve a model whereby all state government agencies purchase infrastructure services through one contract, with the three vendors continuously competing to sell their ICT infrastructure services.

Innovation Minister Bill Marmion said the deals mark a move towards a pay-as-you-go infrastructure service delivery model, which has the potential to save between $65 million and $80 million in annual infrastructure expenses.

“We expect innovation to thrive under this arrangement through the stimulation of local industry, which in turn will ensure diversity of supply,” he said.

“The GovNext-ICT contract enables agencies to have access to the latest and greatest technological offerings to assist with improving their online service delivery presence. Suppliers will be delivering services locally using local and, in some cases, national providers.”

Marmion added that the new procurement regime will support a cost-effective rollout of the Digital WA strategy, which aims to have 70% of transactions with the state government conducted online by 2020.

In total, 56 service providers submitted expressions of interest regarding the contract.

Image courtesy of Atos under CC