DTA seeks feedback on draft procurement framework
The Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) has launched a public consultation on a draft updated ICT procurement framework for the digital age.
The proposed framework aims to overhaul government procurement practices based on the 10 recommendations of the DTA's ICT Procurement Taskforce.
The taskforce recommended that ICT procurement in the Australian Government should encourage competition; be structured in a way that allows SMEs to compete fairly with larger providers; favour open standards and cloud-first approaches; avoid duplication in the building of platforms; and minimise security risks.
Based on consultation with agencies, procurement experts and users, the taskforce found that there are too many procurement panels and they should be refreshable. There is also a sense that procurement is very restricted and there is poor understanding of procurement as a specialist field.
Agencies called for ICT procurement policy to be flexible; expressed strong support for increasing the $80,000 procurement threshold; and called for an ICT procurement one-stop shop for information, tools and reporting.
The draft framework would incorporate these principles and requests. It introduces a new Fair Criteria Policy to encourage competition and support SME participation, covering considerations around insurance; limiting liability; security; and separate critera for large enterprises and SMEs where appropriate. An ICT Consider First Policy would meanwhile include consideration of cloud first; open standards; cybersecurity; shared platforms; digital service standards; and commercial-off-the-shelf products.
The DTA would meanwhile establish a repository of departmental guides; guides to support procurement teams engaging with business; tools such as model contacts and centralised registers to simplify ICT procurement; and methods for ICT procurement professionals to collaborate across agencies.
Interested parties can submit responses via email until 24 April.
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