Unisys bags AU$240m Defence IT deal

The Department of Defence has signed a AU$240 million, five-year contract with Unisys to provide support services including network security, infrastructure support and server and desktop support.

The Department of Defence will maintain overall control of its networks, while Unisys manages the day-to-day operations, according to Deputy Secretary, Defence Support, Martin Bowles.

Unisys will also standardise the Defence Department's support processes nationally, with the aim of resolving second and third level helpdesk queries faster.

Employees at the 100,000 desktops over the 460 Department of Defence locations will also see the the level and speed of service standardised across offices.

Unisys says the contract will mean lower cost IT operations for the Department of Defence.

The decision to outsource regional ICT services will affect 388 staff, according to the Department, but Bowles said they will have access to retraining, redeployment or redundancy entitlements.

The number of employees is significantly lower than the 640 thought to be affected when negotiations with Unisys started at the beginning of last year.

Unisys will employ a number of the affected Defence workers, according to a Department spokesperson: "Unisys has indicated that it will offer employment to any Defence personnel who are currently performing functions that are in scope of the agreement and will match their combined Defence salary and superannuation package."

Sixty percent of staff are likely to take up the offer, according to the Department. Those not wishing to take up, or not included in, the offer have the option of being reassigned to other tasks within Defence.

Unisys and its personnel will be required to undergo the same security clearance processes as Defence personnel according to Bowles, and it will be required to maintain membership of the Defence Industry Security Program, which it has held for nearly ten years according to Unisys.

The contract follows a handful of public sector wins for the company, including a AU$140 million contract with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) for IT services including a single dedicated service desk and secure gateway services, as well as the renewal of a contract with the Australian National Audit Office.