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25 July 2008 – VEGA Group PLC (VEGA), the specialist professional services company, has been awarded a £1.6m contract extension to continue providing specialist support to Government Connect.

Government Connect is the strategic partnership between central government departments and the local government community that aims to build a secure network for English and Welsh local authorities to support better collaboration between central and local government, and share sensitive information online, quickly, easily, accurately and in real time. The programme is an example of how the successful exploitation of technology can enable Transformational Government.

VEGA will support the Government Connect Programme Support Office, and Requirements and System Architecture Team, as well as provide CLAS Security Consultants, and Service Desk and Support Manager. VEGA consultants also form the majority of the central and regionally-based Account Management Team, who act both as Security Advisors and Account Managers, assisting all 410 Local Authorities throughout England and Wales in analysing and proving security compliance, and achieving technical configuration.

As part of its continued involvement with Government Connect, VEGA is working closely with central government departments and agencies including the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP); Communities and Local Government (CLG); the Office of Government Commerce Buying Solutions (OGCbs); the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF); the Local Government Association (LGA); Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC); the Youth Justice Board (YJB); and the Information Assurance (IA) arm of GCHQ (CESG).

The new contract builds on VEGA’s support to Government Connect since November 2006, and runs until March 2009.

VEGA's Director for Government and Defence, Peter Armstrong, said: “This contract extension is confirmation of VEGA’s deep understanding, capability and experience in the provision of secure networks in meeting the technological and security challenges inherent in Government Connect. Moving forward, we are excited about continuing to provide support to this important transformation programme improving the service provision for local government.”