Reston-based Qlarion acquired by Maryland contractor

Columbia, Maryland-based government contractor GCOM Software LLC announced Wednesday it has acquired Reston-based Qlarion Inc., a data analytics and business intelligence contractor.

The purchase marks GCOM’s fifth acquisition since 2018 and its first acquisition of a data analytics company.

“Liberating data will enable governments at all levels to make more informed decisions, creating better outcomes for their constituents,” said GCOM CEO Kamal Bherwani in a statement. “Qlarion’s analytics will amplify GCOM’s mission to support our government partners to improve population well-being, promote equity and drive economic growth.”

Qlarion designed the commonwealth of Virginia’s Framework for Addiction Analysis and Community Transformation (FAACT) , a cross-agency, cloud-based data-sharing platform that launched in 2019 to help communities in Virginia combat opioid addiction.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, according to Qlarion, Virginia began using the framework to get insights like which hospitals needed supplies and pharmaceuticals, which hospitals had beds and ventilators available and locations with the largest number of COVID-19 cases.

“We believe in the power of data to help transform government services and we are looking forward to having a broader reach as we join forces with GCOM,” Jake Bittner, president and CEO of Qlarion, said in a statement. “Both GCOM and Qlarion are committed to creating real, tangible value for our customers and we’re excited to continue our pursuit of this shared goal.”

Qlarion’s data analytics experts will work closely with GCOM’s product team to inject analytics into the company’s existing software as a service products, a move designed to help customers better quantify and understand the effect of their policies and programs.

GCOM’s technology platforms are used in 22 states by state and local governments, with a focus on systems in health and human services, justice and public safety, licensing and regulatory markets.

Qlarion’s existing management team will continue to lead offices in Reston and Richmond.

GCOM is a portfolio company of New York City-based private equity firm Sagewind Capital.