Unisys Extends TASPO Relationship (UIS)

Unisys Corporation (UIS) recently announced that it has won a contract from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Targeting and Analysis Systems Program Office (TASPO).

TASPO is a part of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Information and Technology. Unisys has a long-standing relationship with the TASPO and its predecessor organization over the last 15 years. TASPO provides technology solutions that empower CBP to better protect the U.S. borders.

As per the latest contract, Unisys will develop, operate and manage systems for risk assessments of people and cargo entering the U.S. The task order forms a part of the U.S. General Services Administration's Alliant government-wide acquisition contract.

The contract is estimated at $504 million and carries a one-year period and four one-year option periods.

Management is encouraged with the extension of its long-standing association with TASPO organization and will work diligently to further improve the suite of applications managed by TASPO.

In a separate development, Unisys Corporation successfully completed a project to shift nearly 5,000 users at the Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to Google Apps for Government email and collaboration platform.

This transition will facilitate INL to improve collaboration among its employees through better sharing of information technology infrastructure, resources and applications. The solution also provides employees secure access to email and data in a cost effective manner. This, in turn, allows INL personnel to efficiently execute on essential work with improved system uptime and availability.

Unisys was awarded the transition project in August last year by the Battelle Energy Alliance LLC, the Department of Energy's management and operations contractor at the Idaho National Laboratory. The INL is one of the 10 multi-program national laboratories responsible for operations within the Department of Energy.

In addition, this transition to cloud computing enables INL to invest in the optimum resources allowing workers to focus better on the critical elements of the mission as well as reduce costs related to operating and maintaining its IT infrastructure.

Unisys is an information technology (IT) company that specializes in helping clients to secure their operations, increase efficiency and utilize their data centers, enhance support to their end users and constituents and upgrade their enterprise applications. Unisys is currently concentrating on business opportunities in fewer, more profitable markets in the IT marketplace, such as outsourcing, security, mobility, cloud computing, and others.

In the long run, we maintain our Neutral recommendation on Unisys. Our recommendation is supported by a Zacks #3 Rank, which translates into a short-term rating of Hold.