9 Oct 2013

Tech companies banding together to bid for monster IT project

6:52 am on 9 October 2013

The country's technology companies are banding together to bid for a role in what could be the Government's largest ever IT project.

The Inland Revenue Department is seeking expressions of interest from firms to work on its major online revamp over 10 years.

The department has made clear it is looking for companies that have experience managing upgrades worth at least $100 million for a national tax authority.

Critics say that effectively shuts all New Zealand firms out of the running, but the Technology Industry Association disagrees.

President Candace Kinser says companies such as Gen-i or Datacom would be eligible to apply.

Ms Kinser says she is also assembling a group of local businesses which will bid to play a supporting role in the project.