Tidemark, Unisys widen e-gov reach

Tidemark Computer Systems Inc. recently announced a partnership with Unisys

Corp. in a move designed to increase both companies' market share in the

public sector by leveraging Tidemark's city and county customer base with

Unisys' extensive state and federal coverage.

Tidemark, a provider of electronic government licensing and permitting

solutions, has an extensive list of government customers at the city and

county levels. The company is planning to use the deal with Unisys to pursue

larger government contracts, specifically at the state level, said Mark

Parry, director of strategic alliances at Seattle-based Tidemark.

"Rather than having to build technologies, they can take our technology

and implement it with a known result, knowing that it's a complete solution

being installed," Parry said.

Under the agreement, Unisys — a provider of technology infrastructure

such as servers, workstations and networks — will make Tidemark products

and services available to its existing government clients — which include

many state, local and federal agencies — while Tidemark will introduce Unisys'

equipment to its cus-tomers at the city and county levels.

"The agreement also creates a stronger sales opportunity for us with

more than 4,000 city and county governments nationwide," said Kevin Curry,

vice president and general manager of Blue Bell, Pa.-based Unisys North

America Public Sector.