Government Gateway selects Atos Origin to provide IT managed services

London, 19th September - The Cabinet Office has selected Atos Origin, an international IT services company, to provide IT managed services for the Government Gateway. The transfer of responsibility for design, build and operation of the service and development of the Government Gateway application shalll be completed by the end of 2006. The contract will run for an initial period up to 31 March 2011 and is valued at £46.7million.

The Government Gateway is an enterprise facility, enabling services delivered by a number of public sector organisations including HMRC, DWP and local authorities. The Government Gateway is an important part of the UK government's strategy of delivering 'joined up' government common infrastructure. It enables the public to communicate and make transactions with government such as making tax returns. The Government Gateway is a key part of the Transformational Government strategy.

John Suffolk, CIO for Government, said:‘I consider that the Government Gateway is a key component of common infrastructure and supports the public sector response to the ambitious challenge for shared services set out in the Transformational Government paper, presented to Parliament in November 2005.'

Derek Ward, Executive Vice President for Atos Origin, said: ‘Atos Origin is delighted to continue contributing to the success of the transformational Government agenda. We are looking forward to working, under the auspices of enGage, with both Microsoft and the Cabinet Office.'

Terry Smith, Senior Director, Public Sector at Microsoft UK, said: ‘Microsoft is very proud to continue to be involved in the Government Gateway Programme, and looks forward to working as part of the enGage team.'

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About Atos Origin

Atos Origin is an international information technology services company. Its business is turning client vision into results through the application of consulting, systems integration and managed operations. The company's annual revenues are more than EUR 5.5 billion and it employs over 47,000 people in 40 countries. Atos Origin is the Worldwide Information Technology Partner for the Olympic Games and has a client base of international blue-chip companies across all sectors. Atos Origin is quoted on the Paris Eurolist Market and trades as Atos Origin, Atos Euronext Market Solutions, Atos Worldline and Atos Consulting. For more information, please visit the company's web site at http://www.atosorigin.com

For more information, please contact:

Anne de Beaumont

+ 33 1 55 91 24 15

[email protected]

Caroline Crouch

+44 20 7830 4233

[email protected]