After previous denying, Commerce Minister Paul Lynch today confirmed reports that five participants had made it to the shortlist of potential suppliers for the data centre consolidation initiative of the NSW government. These are Global Switch, Macquarie Capital, Gresham, Leighton Contractors and the Plenary Group Unit Trust.

Global Switch presented a standalone proposal, while the others decided to form consortiums.

Macquarie Capital partnered with data centre giant Digital Realty. Gresham's offer involved Telstra, Technical Real Estate, Hurley Palmer Flatt and AGL.
Leighton Contractors included Springfield Land, which is better known for its Polaris data centres. The Plenary Group Unit Trust has teamed up with Watpac.

Mr Lynch said the NSW government would issue a comprehensive request for tender to the shortlisted participants "in the near future", but there was no clarity on the timeline.

"The shortlisted applicants have demonstrated they can meet the high standards set by the government. They will have the opportunity to tender for the construction, operation and ongoing management of the two facilities," he said.

Allens Arthur Robinson is providing legal advice for the data centre consolidation initiative.

The project has been impacted by delays, primarily due to debates between Treasury and other agencies on who would shoulder the migration expenses.
The two hosting sites for the environmentally friendly facilities have been chosen, seven months after the deal closed.

However, the government declined to announce when the actual tender process will start. It was originally scheduled for the first quarter of 2010.
The NSW government aims to combine 130 data centres into two sites over a 10 year period. The departments of Health and Education will act as anchor tenants.

According to Mr Lynch, the sites will be located in Sydney and the Illawarra region.