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Cluster 3 Extends IT Outsourcing Contract

Media Release - DPS 61/2002

Cluster 3 Agencies this week announced the signing of a four-year contract extension for the provision of IT services by CSC Australia Pty Ltd.

The agencies remaining in the Cluster 3 arrangement, which signed the $157 million contract extension option on 20 August, are the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA), the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) and IP Australia.

The contract was signed at DIMIA's Central Office by Bill Farmer (Secretary, DIMIA), Ian Heath (Director-General, IP Australia), Andy Becker (Electoral Commissioner, AEC) and George Bell (Chief Executive Officer, CSC).

DIMIA will be the largest client agency under the new contract that will commence on 1 July 2003.

Under the contract arrangements CSC will provide DIMIA with a full range of IT services that will interface with the data and voice services provided to the Cluster by Optus Pty Ltd.

The AEC will receive mainframe, midrange and internet services, and IP Australia will receive mainframe services.

The signing of the Cluster 3 contract extension was the culmination of an extensive value for money assessment undertaken under the auspices of the Cluster 3 Contract Management Office.

As part of the arrangements the Cluster expects CSC to continue its commitment to the government's Industry Development requirements.

The first five-year term for outsourcing arrangements commenced in July 1998 to cease in July 2003 with provision for extension options of four years in total.

22 August 2002

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