Computer Sciences Corporation has announced it has signed a three-year, AUD$15.4 million information technology (IT) services contract with Western Power, the Western Australian Government owned electricity network utility.
The contract, which includes three one-year options and has a potential value of AUD$21 million if all options are exercised, is the first IT outsourcing contract to be awarded by Western Power.
As a part of this contract, CSC will provide Western Power with mainframe operations and support services. In addition, Western Power's mainframe infrastructure support staff will transition to CSC in June.
"Western Power selected CSC because they have demonstrated themselves to be an expert provider of mainframe services and are able to offer meaningful careers to Western Power staff that are transferring under this agreement, said Leigh Sprlyan, Western Power chief information officer. "CSC was also able to offer a contemporary consumption-based pricing model that provides the flexibility for Western Power to pay only for the mainframe capacity it requires.
Through this model, Western Power will be able to continue its critical mainframe services, whilst reducing costs as it decommissions mainframe applications over time. CSC will migrate Western Power's mainframe processing to its Melbourne-based mainframe centre. This facility provides mainframe processing services to a number of CSC clients including AMP, Coles Myer, Western Australia Police Service, Alcoa, Westpac and the Australian Federal Government.
"CSC, which has a long track record in supporting clients' critical mainframe services, will apply this experience to provide Western Power with robust and secure services, said Nick Wilkinson, president of CSC's Australia operations. "The win strengthens CSC's presence in the region, reaffirms our position as the largest provider of IT services in Western Australia and contributes to our growing list of utilities industry clients around the globe.