Geoscience Australia has appointed Leidos Australia as its new IT services provider, securing the deal six months before its current contract with Cirrus ends.
The three-year, $16.6 million agreement will see Leidos deliver ICT managed services across core systems. These include on-premises infrastructure, application support, cloud platforms, networks, and cyber security. The deal also covers helpdesk operations and regular upgrades to create a stronger and more mature IT environment.
Since May 2021, Geoscience has worked with Perth-based Cirrus. That contract began at $13 million, later increased to $20.3 million, and will conclude in December.
In 2024, the agency released its Data and Digital Strategy. The plan moves away from traditional centralisation and adopts a “franchise support model.” Under this model, core services such as networks, computing, operating systems, and storage remain centrally managed. Meanwhile, specialised science capabilities are assigned to individual teams.
This shift is part of Geoscience Australia goal to strengthen its digital and data capabilities by 2028. The focus is on building responsive, resilient, and connected infrastructure that improves access to data across the organisation.
In recent years, Geoscience has taken steps to modernise its systems. One example is the migration of a six-petabyte petroleum exploration dataset from tape storage to the cloud. However, its latest corporate plan highlights continuing challenges. These include rapid growth in data volumes, the expansion of cloud computing, the integration of data from multiple sources, and the growing role of artificial intelligence.
