RNS No 6078n
COMINO PLC
15th February 1999


 
                          COMINO PLC: CONTRACT AWARDS
          Context Computers subsidiary wins #500,000 of new contracts

Comino  plc, the supplier of software based business solutions for the  social
housing,  local authority, pensions and clothing sectors, announces  that  its
Context  Computers ("Context") subsidiary has been awarded three new contracts
by  housing associations and local authorities worth more than #500,000.  They
include  a  first-ever  contract in facilities management.  The  contracts  in
detail are:

*  Fosseway  Housing  Association  of Cirencester,  Gloucestershire.  A  long-
standing  Context customer, Fosseway has awarded Context the contract  to  run
its housing management systems and network administration. The contract, which
includes  a  #100,000  upgrade  of Fosseway's systems,  involves  running  the
Fosseway  computer  systems, maintaining full back-up and providing  40  days'
consultancy per annum for five years to Fosseway staff.

Bob  Reade,  Fosseway  Housing Association's Director  of  Central  Resources,
commented:  "The  contract  is going very well. What  makes  this  arrangement
different  is the consultancy we are getting, which will ensure our staff  use
the systems to their full advantage."

* Wakefield Metropolitan District Council. One of Context's largest customers,
Wakefield Metropolitan District Council has just completed a two-year  project
to implement Minerva, Context's top-end management information system. Through
a wide area network connecting 14 local area offices and the housing service's
head  office, Wakefield's housing managers can now generate management reports
in  a matter of minutes that would have taken some weeks to prepare under  the
old systems. The first of its kind, the contract is worth #150,000.

Operational  information is downloaded weekly into Minerva's multi-dimensional
database (known as OLAP) and can then be accessed instantaneously. The reports
generated can then be interrogated and manipulated in a variety of ways.

Steve Hunt, Wakefield Housing Service's Strategic Services Manager, commented:
"Minerva  has  speeded  up  the  whole process  of  information  provision  to
operational staff. We are now working with Context to develop new modules that
would  allow us to replace some of the hard copy reports we produce  in  areas
such  as  housing  benefits,  sundry debts, and Citizens  Charter  Performance
Indicators."

*  Blackpool  Borough Council. Blackpool Borough Council's Housing  Department
has  recently  completed  a thorough evaluation of  all  its  various  systems
suppliers  as  part  of a process aimed at implementing an integrated  housing
system.  Following  an  open tender process, it chose Context,  whose  letting
module had previously been used to manage Blackpool's waiting list.  The  main
modules will be introduced in two stages and the system will be ready  to  use
by late summer 1999. The value of the order is #175,000.

Madeleine  Buckley,  Senior Management Officer at Blackpool  Borough  Council,
commented:
"Our  current  systems  have  been reviewed  to  ensure  they  are  millennium
compliant.  The new system will be more streamlined integrating three separate
systems into one management system.  We are very happy with the contract  with
Context as the service should improve enormously."

Editor's note:
Context  software  manages  a full range of social  housing  activities,  from
development  finance  to  lettings, rental  control,  repairs  and  long  term
maintenance planning.  A full module also exists for the management of  Direct
Service Organisations.

Most  Context  customers  manage a large number  of  rented  properties.   The
systems are used by housing associations and local authorities in the UK,  and
notably  by  two  large housing operations in Canada and  Australia.   Context
currently has some 200 housing customers, of which 27 are local authorities.

For further information contact:

Garth Selvey, Chief Executive
Comino plc                                                       01628 525 433

Barrie Johnson, Business Development Director
Context                                                          01943 851 010

END

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