Ipex scores $130 million govt contract

Local systems integrator Ipex has been awarded a $130 million, five-year outsourcing contract for the Group 8 Commonwealth agencies.

Group 8 includes the Australian Broadcasting Authority; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Commission; Australian Communications Authority; Civil Aviation Safety Authority; Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Australia; Public Service and Merit Protection Commission; and Environment Australia. Government officials said the contract would cover around 7500 desktops across the seven Commonwealth agencies.

The Ipex appointment continues the federal government's attempts at appointing contracts to local small and medium sized enterprises. However, this is the first contract the government has appointed to a local SME since it introduced its outsourcing policy. Officials believe the contract will save the agencies around $40 million over the five-year term.