Computerbase to Develop Systems for Virginia Firm

Computerbase International of Irvine has signed a $5-million, multiyear contract to develop prototype computer systems for a computer firm in McLean, Va.

The contract with Flashpoint Computer Corp. is a significant one for Computerbase, a small, defense-technology company that reported sales of just $1.3 million for the fiscal year ended April 30, 1987.

Computerbase said sales bookings for the first five months of its current fiscal year, which ends April 30, 1988, have reached $6.5 million--a figure that includes part of the Flashpoint contract.

Richard Manweller, Computerbase’s chief executive, declined Tuesday for competitive reasons to discuss the computer system to be developed for Flashpoint, a maker of midrange computers founded last year by former executives of Gould Inc.

Computerbase, said Manweller, has begun to focus more on its core business--computer contract work--after devoting most of its resources the last few years to research into a defense-related computer system.

He said that Computerbase expects to announce soon the name of a firm that will help pay for developing the military computers.

Last June, Computerbase named W. Paul Thayer, a former deputy secretary of defense, to serve as a company director and chairman of its executive management committee, and to head the division developing the military computers. Thayer was convicted in 1985 of obstruction of justice on insider stock trading charges and served one year in federal prison and six months in a Dallas halfway house.

In August, Thayer bought 15% of Computerbase’s stock.