update Local search specialist and CSIRO spin-off Funnelback will continue to provide search services to the federal government's primary online portal and other Web sites, in a deal potentially worth AU$2.25 million over three years.
Funnelback's involvement in the portal dates back to January 2004, under a contract due to expire last month. However a statement issued by Special Minister of State Gary Nairn this afternoon said Funnelback had won a formal tender process commenced in September, and would continue to provide services until 2009.
The statement said australia.gov.au provided some 2,000 links to information and services from over 750 Australian government Web sites. The deal will also ensure Funnelback's presence will continue to be felt throughout the public sector.
"As part of this arrangement, the Department of Finance and Administration has made the australia.gov.au search engine service available to other Australian government agencies for their Web sites," said Nairn.
The statement said the service had already been taken up for 20 agencies, with "more expected to join over the coming months".
Funnelback said in a statement issued late today that the two-year deal would be worth up to AU$2.25 million in total if the government took its option to extend the arrangements for a third year.
"The Funnelback search service will crawl and index all Australian Government websites each weeknight to ensure the content available for search by citizens is always fresh," the statement said.
Other federal government agencies which have disclosed contracts with Funnelback over the past 12 months include:
- The Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts (AU$24,860)
- Geoscience Australia (AU$31,900)
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (AU$15,400)
- Department of Finance and Administration (AU$150,812)
- Department of Transport and Regional Services (AU$38,262)
- Family Court of Australia (AU$115,550)
- Federal Court of Australia (AU$26,400)
- Department of the Environment and Heritage (AU$55,041)
- Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (AU$27,500)
