IBM Corp is going head to head with growing IT services powerhouse Computer Sciences Corp for a lucrative contract with aerospace and defense giant Raytheon Co. The contract at stake is worth over $1bn, according to reports, and would cover the integration of several disparate networks, as well as various email and helpdesk systems, which resulted from Raytheon acquisitions and are said to be costing the company about $1bn a year to operate. It appears that CSC was a lock to win the business about six months ago, before Raytheon reconsidered and solicited other bids. Meanwhile, Electronic Data Systems Corp says it was invited to submit a proposal but, after some consideration, decided not to enter a bid for the deal.
