NIC Inc. will build and manage an e-government portal for the state of Vermont through a six-year contract worth at least $4 million.

The three-year base contract has renewal options for three additional years to cover service through 2012, the company said.

The Vermont Information Consortium, an NIC unit, will manage the contract from its office in the state capital of Montpelier. Under the contract terms, the consortium will supply the infrastructure and staff expertise necessary to develop, maintain and host the state’s official e-government portal.

NIC will use a self-funding model in which transaction fees generate revenue to cover the development and operational costs. The contract value may exceed $4 million depending on the volume of transactions, said NIC spokesman Chris Neff.

The company is currently discussing with state officials which new services will be rolled out next year.

NIC of Olathe, Kan., currently manages state portals and provides outsourced e-government services for 19 states.