Lockheed, Siebel Join to Target Federal IT Market

Hoping to ride the government IT spending gravy train, defense contractor Lockheed Martin and Internet business software firm Siebel Systems formed a strategic alliance this week.

Under their new pact, Lockheed Martin technical personnel to train and become certified on the implementation of Siebel eGovernment and Siebel Homeland Security Applications.

Bethesda, Md.-based Lockheed Martin designs, manufactures and helps install technology systems, including those at federal agencies. San Mateo, Calif.-based Siebel develops business and government software.

“As our nation faces a disturbing array of security concerns, improved threat detection and information sharing within and among agencies is critical to our national safety. Our new partnership offers the software functionality, scalability, performance and federal government expertise needed to meet some of the U.S. government’s most pressing challenges,” said Siebel chairman and CEO Tom Siebel.

The President is expected to sign the Homeland Security bill, which would create a cabinet-level Department of Homeland Security combining 22 federal agencies with an estimated budget of $37.4 billion, including $2.12 billion for IT.

Lockheed is currently helping move federal agencies toward an eGovernment model, incorporating commercial off-the-shelf technologies with U.S. military and civil government agencies.

Siebel said its eGovernment Applications can help because they support government work processes, including entitlements management; tax and revenue management; enforcement and compliance; healthcare services; logistics management; recruiting; training; education; and homeland security.

Siebel also has global partnerships with Microsoft , IBM , Hewlett-Packard , BEA Systems , Sun Microsystems , Avaya and a host of accounting and consulting firms.

“This alliance enables government agencies to leverage the complimentary capabilities and expertise of the foremost federal systems integrator and the world’s leading provider of eGovernment applications software,” said Lockheed Martin Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategic Development Arthur Johnson. “Our customers are demanding reliable, high-performance, highly-scalable commercial-off-the-shelf products.”