Submission to the Inquiry into ACT Government Procurement

The ACT Legislative Assembly Standing Committee on Public Accounts is holding an Inquiry into ACT Government Procurement. An Invitation for Public Submissions was issued and closes 31 July 2009. Below is an outline I what I am thinking of submitting. Suggestions and comments are welcome:

Submission to the Inquiry into ACT Government Procurement - Draft for comment

From: Tom Worthington
PO Box 13
Belconnen ACT 2617

To: Secretary, Standing Committee on Public Accounts
ACT Legislative Assembly, Canberra ACT 2601

This is a submission to the ACT Legislative Assembly Standing Committee on Public Accounts for the Inquiry into ACT Government Procurement.

The submission addresses the following terms of reference, largely with respect to the use and procurement of computers and telecommunications (ICT):

...
(2) the integration of sustainability considerations that encompass environmental, economic and social aspects throughout procurement processes
(3) agency approaches to procurement training and development activities
(4) the ability of local suppliers to compete for ACT Government procurement opportunities ...

Integration of sustainability considerations in procurement processes

It is suggested that the ACT Government should work with the federal government and other state and local government on common sustainability standards for procurement of government ICT. The federal departments of Environment and Finance are working on green ICT standards at present.

It is suggested that the ACT should propose to work with the Commonwealth and other jurisdictions. It is suggested that this be done by using the federal finance department's GovDex system. This will allow federal, state and local government officials to participate in joint working parties without the need for face-to-face meetings. It is suggested that there be also participation by industry representatives. The aim should be to release green ICT guidelines by the end of 2009.

Agency approaches to procurement training and development activities

It is suggested that ACT government agencies should make use of flexible and e-learning for procurement training, using nationally accredited courses. The Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) is a leader in the field of the development and delivery of such courses and could provide for the ACT Government's needs. In addition other organisations run specialised courses, as an example I have designed a course in Green ICT, including ICT procurement, versions of which are delivered via the web by the Australian National University and the Australian Computer Society.

Ability of local suppliers to compete for ACT Government procurement opportunities

It is suggested that the ACT Government's online tender system be upgraded to provide similar facilities to the Australian Government AusTender and NZ Government GETS. Systems. In particular the system should allow a small business to register for a particular category of tender and automatically receive an email message advising of tenders in that category. Also once registered, the business should be able to obtain details of a specific tender via the ACT Government's web site without needing to reenter all their contact details.

At present the ACT Government display tenders online and sends a weekly message advising new tenders are available. However, the message does not indicate if there are any tenders the particular business might be interested in. The business has to look through all the new tenders. In contrast the Australian and NZ systems allow a particular category to be registered for, such as computer related tenders. The business then can look at that specific tender.

At present the business has to reenter all its contact details in order to download a tender from the ACT tender web site. In contrast the Australian and NZ systems only requiring registering this information once.