SSY.L Regulatory News (SSY)

3 Aug 2009 07:00



SciSys plc ("SciSys" or the "Company")

SciSys wins a new contract with the Coal Authority for the delivery of Inferis, a new corporate information management system.

SciSys plc (AIM: SSY), the specialist supplier of bespoke software systems, IT based solutions and support services is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a new contract with the Coal Authority for the delivery of Inferis, a new corporate mining information management system. The contract consists of the analysis, design, development, testing and implementation of a new geographic information system to replace its current Mining Reports and Surface Damage System and incorporating the data and functionality from a number of other existing systems. The contract also includes the provision of ongoing Service Management to provide support and maintenance, technology refreshes and ongoing enhancement of Inferis. It is expected that the initial value of the contract during the analysis, design, development and implementation phases will be circa £5m. These phases are expected to collectively last two years and will be followed by several years Service Management.

Replacing the Coal Authority's current Mining Reports and Surface Damage System (MRSDS), which has been operating since 1998, Inferis is core to the Coal Authority's work as it holds the legacy and ongoing coal mining records for the UK and supplies data into the conveyancing market. The data is added to daily and used in the management of public safety and subsidence issues, planning, licensing and permissions activity, environmental projects and the provision of information services to stakeholders. The Inferis system sits at the heart of the Authority's strategy, which is to manage public safety and share its data with the public, local authorities, planners and developers on a much broader scale than at present. The Coal Authority expects to continue to deliver information into the property market. The Coal Authority is also taking the opportunity to integrate other bespoke systems currently in use into Inferis.

In order to do this efficiently and competitively the Coal Authority needed a 'best in class' system with a committed service provider. Its rigorous selection process was used to select an organisation which will be committed to the Coal Authority and is capable of delivering its vision in a professional, collaborative and responsive manner. The system is based on state-of-the-art Service Oriented Architecture, GIS and workflow technologies.

Chairman Mike Love commented "SciSys is delighted to open a new relationship with the Coal Authority on such a key contract. For SciSys, it is further recognition of our ability to provide government bodies with innovative and cost-effective solutions in challenging business and technical environments. It is particularly satisfying that SciSys has won this contract against larger competitors in the marketplace. The award continues the excellent momentum at SciSys during 2009, and reinforces the Board's current confidence in the Company's expected 2009 financial performance and order book for 2010."

The Coal Authority: "The Coal Authority has ambitious plans to make its data more widely available while continuing to effectively manage public safety and environmental issues. SciSys demonstrated that they can listen, innovate and work openly with the Coal Authority in an exciting new relationship."

Notes to Editors:

The Coal Authority was established by Parliament to undertake specific statutory duties, set out in the Coal Industry Act 1994, associated with licensing coal mining operations; managing property and the historic legacy arising from the ownership of the coal reserves and coal workings; settling subsidence damage claims not falling on coal mine operators and providing access to coal mining and related information. It employs 170 staff, based mainly at the head office in Mansfield with some field staff remotely based in order to enable a fast response to incidents in the coal mining areas. The Authority is funded by Grant-in-Aid from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). 

Additional information about the Coal Authority is available at:

http://www.coal.gov.uk

SciSys is a leading global developer of ICT services, e-Business and advanced technology solutions. The company operates in a broad spectrum of market sectors including space, utilities, defence, government, environment, communications, transport, media and broadcast. Within these markets, SciSys has been involved in significant developments that have changed the way people do their jobs, through key technologies. SciSys' clients are predominantly blue chip and public sector organisations and its customers include the Environment Agency, Arqiva, the MOD, Astrium, the European Space Agency, the BBC, Deutsche Welle, the Metropolitan Police and the RNLI.

Additional information about SciSys is available at: http://www.scisys.co.uk

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