NSW has renewed its whole-of-government agreement with IBM for another three years, adding “enhanced cyber security and privacy terms”.
The standing offer arrangement spans software licenses, support maintenance, hardware, professional services and cloud services.
According to IBM Australia and New Zealand managing director Nicholas Flood, the renewal will “streamline access” to IBM’s artificial intelligence and hybrid cloud portfolio.
Shortly after its formation in July 2019, the NSW Department of Customer signed the volume sourcing agreement with IBM to “accommodate consumption of cloud and services”, including both public cloud and SaaS.
Initially signed for five years, the agreement was later updated in 2021 to cover cloud and professional services.
IBM said at the time that the agreement would “provide a more streamlined process for agencies to access emerging technology”, making specific reference to IBM hybrid cloud, artificial intelligence and security.
According to the NSW Government’s procurement website, agencies have signed 13 contracts with IBM under this arrangement, adding up to a total of $101 million.
The largest of these is a $43-million deal with NSW Police for ‘Topaz 4’, which was signed in February 2024 and marks the next iteration of IBM’s long-running technology agreement with the force.
NSW Police, a heavy user of IBM, previously had unveiled ‘Topaz 3’, a project aimed at consolidating its systems and removing its 26-year-old core operational policing system (COPS) from its IBM mainframe and replace it with a new core system.
Another beneficiary of the standing order agreement was the NSW Department of Transport, which signed a $26 million software licence and support deal with IBM, valid between 2022 and 2025.
Other agencies such as eHealth NSW and Insurance and Care NSW (icare) have also dipped into the arrangement for software licenses and assurance services valued at $9.4 million and $8.4 million respectively.
In a statement to iTnews, an NSW Department of Customer Service spokesman acknowledged the three-year extension and said it will “allow NSW government customers to continue procuring software, hardware, cloud and professional products and services.”
Writing on LinkedIn, Flood said the renewed deal is “exciting given the potential to accelerate work – for which the NSW Government are globally renowned – to make it easier for citizens to deal with government by driving improvements in customer service”.
According to Flood, the renewal also comes with a “framework to support delivery of services from regional Australia, including from IBM’s client innovation centre in Bathurst”.