Manugistics Group Scores With NATO

Competitive intelligence firm Current Analysis Inc. is bullish on prospects for Manugistics Group Inc., following the announcement that Manugistics has been awarded a basic order agreement by the NATO Consultation, Command and Control Agency.

The agreement allows NATO's 19 member nations, 27 partner countries and numerous governmental agencies to obtain supply chain management products and services through a simple purchase order at pre-negotiated contract terms with Manugistics of Rockville, Md.

The award establishes Manugistics as "the prime supplier of [supply chain management] solutions to the public sector, both within the U.S. and worldwide," said Jill Jenkins, an analyst with Sterling, Va.-based Current Analysis, in a Dec. 15 report. Jenkins said she is not aware of any other company being placed on the basic order agreement.

"The award gives us key access to a wide variety of European governmental agencies ? and military forces ? seeking commercially available software solutions that can lead to greater efficiencies and improved customer service," said Jeff Holmes, Manugistics' senior vice president of government and aerospace.

Jenkins said Manugistics was struggling a year ago, but public sector deals have become a cornerstone in the company's revitalization.

In July, the company was appointed to the General Services Administration's schedule for information technology software vendors. This month Manugistics signed a contract with Andersen Consulting to support the Defense Logistics Agency's business systems modernization program.

"The attack on the public sector has garnered Manugistics a lot of attention, if not a lot of potential revenue," Jenkins said.