Kiwi-owned Datacom wins share in major ICT transformation tender with WA Government

Datacom has been selected as one of three ICT transformation suppliers to the WA Government, but would not comment on how much the deal is worth. Above, the Datacom NZ building in Auckland's Federal St. Photo / File

New Zealand-owned information technology company Datacom has been selected as one of three suppliers to deliver a major ICT transformation for the Western Australian Government.

The information and communication technology (ICT) contract with the state government will see Datacom, NEC and Atos compete in a "walled-garden" environment for projects across different agencies.

The Herald understands the contract has the potential to be one of Datacom's largest.

If so, that would put the contract in the league of their 2015 tender with the Federal Department of Health in Australia, worth A$242m (NZ$254m) over five years.

Datacom, however, could not comment on how much the deal is worth because its value was not yet known, a spokesman said.

The Western Australian Government spends roughly A$300m a year on IT and is attempting to reduce costs through the consumption-based contract.

As a part of a three member panel of preferred suppliers, Datacom will have the right along with NEC and Atos to bid on all new work as it arrives.

"The appointment of Datacom as one of three suppliers of ICT infrastructure to the Western Australian Government marks the beginning of an exciting new digital era for the public sector," Western Australia Government Innovation Minister Bill Marmion said.

"The new arrangements will modernise technology across government and provide the technical platform for the state's ICT Strategy Digital WA. We look forward to working with Datacom, and the two other suppliers, over the term of this contract."

Datacom chief executive Jonathan Ladd said: "We're proud to have been awarded this work after going through such an intensive, competitive tender process. This is an innovative, forward-thinking project that will transform how the Western Australian Government provides services to its citizens.

"We look forward to working with the Government to successfully transition its agencies to these new platforms, providing the world-class infrastructure and support to match the Government's vision for truly 21st century governance - flexible, efficient and cost-effective."