Services giants line up for RailCorp ICT business
According to the NSW government's tenders Web site, IBM Global Services, CSC Australia, Fujitsu, Unisys and Telstra services unit Kaz have responded to RailCorp's request for services companies to express preliminary interest in securing the ICT outsourcing business.
RailCorp is selecting a short-list of companies that would participate in any request-for-tender stage.
Details of what RailCorp is planning on the ICT outsourcing front are sketchy, with the tender documents protected by a password restricted to prospective respondents and officials from the rail body unwilling to shed much additional light on the topic.
A spokesperson today issued a statement indicating that no firm decision to outsource had yet been made.
"RailCorp is currently undertaking market testing to determine industry's ability to provide Information [and] Communications Technology (ICT) Group's service and support centre services," he said.
"Following current market testing, RailCorp may review options to more formally seek proposals from the industry."
The outsourcing proposal is the latest step in the reform of the state's troubled rail system and comes just over two years after the government merged two existing bodies to form the Rail Infrastructure Corporation to manage the passenger rail network throughout NSW.
The proposal is just one element of a plan put in place by Vicky Coleman, Railcorp's first chief information officer, to reform the organisation's ICT operations. If the railway proceeds with outsourcing, up to 200 staff could be affected.