Saber gives North Carolina health system a shot in the arm

Saber Corp. will deliver a new health system to the North Carolina Health and Human Services Department through a 19-month contract worth $19.8 million.

Under the contract, Saber of Portland, Ore., will replace several of the state's legacy public health systems with a statewide, Web-based system. The company will integrate the system throughout the state's public health departments.

Saber's partner on the project is NetSmart Technologies Inc., a maker of enterprisewide software.

Saber will construct the system around Netsmart's Avatar software, a commercial product that automates clinical, financial and management functions for providers and payers of community mental health, public health and substance abuse services.

The deal includes a subsequent 42-month maintenance and support clause that will raise the total value of the contract to $24.5 million. Further, the deal includes two options that would enable the contracting team to extend the systems coverage to the state's mental and rural health communities.

Privately held Saber offers software and services to state and local governments for a variety of functions, ranging from election management and motor vehicle administration to public retirement programs and human services.