Australian PC assembler ASI Solutions has scored a $50 million bonanza after being awarded a contact for the supply of desktops as one of the key SME partners to IBM Global Services Australia in the Federal Health Group Contract awarded last week.

ASI Solutions' director, Maree Lowe announced that the company will supply more than 8000 ASI desktops, and provide Australia wide on-site desk-side PC / LAN support services for the Federal Government Health Group.

The group includes the Department of Health and Aged Care, the Health Insurance Commission (HIC) and Medibank Private. ASI will manage service-level obligations and associated service credits, and provision of services associated with moves and modifications, adds and changes. Forty staff will be employed to assist in the management of services to Health and HIC. Lowe added that ASI's channel partners stand to benefit as they will be involved in the installation and warranty support for the period of the contract.

According to Lowe the desktops will not start rolling out until the new year by the time formalities are completed between the Federal Government and IBM GSA, and in the meanwhile ASI will be gearing up its production facilities to fulfil the five year contract.

"These sorts of wins don't happen overnight," said Lowe. "There has been a lot of people working very hard towards this for over 12 months," she added. She said that it is likely that ASI would be looking for bigger premises, and that with contracts like this expects to pass the $100 million annual turnover figure next year.