Capgemini and Accenture face off for Centrelink payment overhaul
- 31 October, 2016 17:09
Capgemini and Accenture have been shortlisted in negotiations with the government to provide systems integration services for the overhaul of the welfare payment system.
The search for a lead systems integrator kicked off in August, shortly after the government revealed that SAP had been identified as the preferred core software vendor for its mammoth Welfare Payment Infrastructure Transformation (WPIT) program.
The program involves the replacement of Centrelink’s aging, mainframe-based welfare payments system, which dates back to 1983. The total cost of the program is expected to be in the region of $1 billion.
The government in April last year revealed it had greenlit the multi-year project, and the 2015-16 budget earmarked funding planning, scoping and design work.
The government has said it is seeking a panel of up to six systems integrators for the project.
A statement from human services minister Alan Tudge said that Capgemini and Accenture will “work closely with the Department of Human Services in an innovative ‘try, before you buy’ scenario”.
The second-placed firm will be invited to join the ongoing WPIT panel.
“They, along with a small number of other top ranking firms will be able to be drawn upon over the life of the project to help provide integration, data migration and other services to support implementation,” the statement said.
The first tranche of the program is almost completed, with tranche two to commence early next year, according to the minister.