$4.7 Million Contract for the Year 2000 Conversion
NEWS RELEASE TRANSMITTED BY CANADIAN CORPORATE NEWS
FOR: THE CGI GROUP INC.
TSE;ME SYMBOL: GIB.A
APRIL 21, 1997
CGI Obtains an Important $4.7 Million Contract for the
Year 2000 Conversion of the SAAQ'S Computer Systems
QUEBEC, QUEBEC--
- First major Quebec Government Year 2000 conversion contract
- CGI partners with IBM and Informission
- 50 new high-tech jobs for Quebec City
The CGI Group Inc. today announced that it has been awarded,
following a public invitation to tender, a major contract of over
$4.7 million for the Year 2000 conversion of the Quebec Automobile
Insurance Comission (SAAQ) computer systems. This contract, which
will contribute to the creation of close to 50 new jobs in Quebec
City is the first major Year 2000 contract awarded by a Quebec
Government organization. CGI and its two specialized Year 2000
partners IBM and Informisssion will immediately start the
conversion work which will continue for almost three years.
"This contract is excellent news for CGI and its partners as well
as for employment in the Quebec City area", said Guy Laberge,
Senior Vice-President of CGI in Quebec City. "It confirms that
our expertise and the exclusive tools we have at our disposal give
us a solid lead over the competition. We must also acknowledge the
Quebec Government's rigorous management approach which places it
among the first public administrations in Canada to develop a
global and structured approach to the critical Year 2000 problem."
CGI's contract includes the Year 2000 conversion of most of the
SAAQ's information systems, including those which manage vehicle
registration, drivers' licenses and compensation. It is common
knowledge that most large computer systems on a worldwide basis
cannot recognize dates beyond 1999, a glitch which, if it is not
corrected on time, could cause very serious dysfunctions. This
problem is more complex than it first appears and specialists
evaluate the global cost of correcting it at approximetaly US$600
billion. The Quebec government says it will spend approximately
$50 million to update its systems for the millennium.
"This contract complements an impressive series of Year 2000
related mandates which have been entrusted to us by numerous
pivate and public organizations from all over Canada", added
Laberge; "this provides us with a unique conversion expertise. Our
partner, Quebec City-based Informission, offers a Year 2000
conversion software solution which is recognized as one of the
best in the world and no one will challenge IBM's unmatched
mastery of large, centralized system environments. The specialists
we train in Quebec City will eventually handle work for
information systems located elsewhere in Canada or in other
countries."
With its 2,500 specialists, CGI is the largest Canadian-owned
independent information technlogy consulting firm. It provides
end- to-end services and business solutions to more than 1,800
clients throughout Canada and elsewhere in the world.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
The CGI Group Inc.
Yves Roberge
Public Affairs
(514) 841-3230
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