IBM Global Services wins $230M Australian contract

IBM Global Services has won a five-year $230 million outsourcing deal with the Australian government's health agencies.

Under terms of the deal, IBM Global Services' Australian division will provide mainframe and data center management, midrange services, 8,000 desktops, LAN services, telecommunications, and help desk services. Most of these services are currently delivered in-house.

The government's Health Group Agencies include the Department of Health and Aged Care, the Health Insurance Commission and Medibank Private Ltd., the government's private health insurance agency.

The deal has two two-year extensions, and the new IT is expected to be implemented in 18 to 22 weeks. Subcontractors on the deal include Advantra (for telecommunication services), Telstra and Cable & Wireless Optus.

IBM Global Services, of Somers, N.Y., can be reached at www.ibm.com/services.