Procurement Latest News
Contract Management Foundations Seminar - Newcastle - Tuesday, 15 May 2012
On Tuesday, 15 May 2012, Finance will host a one day Procurement Foundations Seminar at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Corner Merewether Street and Wharf Road, Newcastle NSW.
This Seminar will provide participants with a range of basic but detailed information on contract management that all officers undertaking contract management need to know.
While the Seminar is primarily aimed at officers new to contract management, officers seeking to refresh their knowledge tell us that they also find the information useful.
There is no charge for attendance but places are limited and will be allocated in the order that completed Registration Forms are received.
Registration Form - May 2012 - Newcastle [
59KB]
Registration Form - May 2012 - Newcastle [
185KB]
Email your completed Registration Form to forum@finance.gov.au
Commonwealth Procurement Rules – effective from 1 July 2012
From 1 July 2012 all departments and agencies subject to the Financial and Accountability Act 1997 and relevant Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 bodies will be required to comply with the 2012 Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPRs).
Hardcopies of the CPRs are available from the central procurement team within each agency. A link to the Commonwealth Procurement Rules is provided for information only as they do not take effect until 1 July 2012. The 2008 Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines (CPGs) remain applicable to 30 June 2012.
The CPRs represent the Government Policy Framework under which agencies govern and undertake their own procurement and combine both Australia's international obligations and good practice. Together, these enable agencies to design processes that are robust, transparent and instill confidence in the Australian Government's procurement.
The CPRs do not alter existing procurement policy, but clarify the CPRs as a rule set, ensure consistent and well understood use of terminology, redefine the procurement methods, and address the recommendation of the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) raised in performance audit No.11 2010-11 on Direct Source Procurement.
A CPR transitional document (or quick guide) has also been developed to assist agencies with the key changes between the CPRs and the 2008 CPGs. For further information regarding the transition to the CPRs, contact your central procurement area in the first instance.
Enquiries can be emailed to the Procurement Agency Advice mailbox.
Australian Government Legal Services Multi-Use List
The Attorney-General’s Department through the Office of Legal Services Coordination (OLSC) is establishing a legal services multi-use list (LSMUL) which must be used by most Commonwealth departments, agencies and bodies subject to the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 or Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 (Agencies) to purchase legal services.
The LSMUL will include Service Providers who have been pre-qualified to undertake legal work for the Commonwealth by applying for and satisfying the conditions for participation to provide legal services to Agencies in nominated categories of legal work. The LSMUL is expected to be operational in June 2012.Agencies will be required under the Legal Services Directions to purchase legal services from Service Providers on the LSMUL from the date of its commencement. This requirement is subject to a transitional period of 12 months from the date of commencement. Agencies wishing to use an existing panel arrangement after the expiry of the transitional period will be required to seek approval from OLSC.
Applications for Inclusion on the LSMUL opened on 7 December 2011.
Commonwealth Cleaning Services Guidelines and Revised Fair Work Principles User Guide
From 1 January 2012, Australian Government agencies and their representatives will be required to comply with the Commonwealth Cleaning Services Guidelines and revised the Fair Work Principles User Guide. The Commonwealth Cleaning Services Guidelines are a legislative instrument that establishes a framework within which agencies can accept a tender and enter into a contract for an Australian Government Cleaning Services Contract (AGCSC).
The Fair Work Principles User Guide has been revised to reflect the introduction of the Commonwealth Cleaning Services Guidelines and the Best Practice Measures for Cleaning Services Contractors for Australian Government Procurement. The Commonwealth Cleaning Services Guidelines and the revised Fair Work Principles User Guide will apply to each request for tender or request for expressions of interest for an AGCSC issued by an Australian Government agency for the first time on or after 1 January 2012.
Australian Government agencies planning to undertake a tender for an AGCSC in January 2012 should contact the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) as soon as possible.
All enquiries can be emailed to fairworkprinciples@deewr.gov.au
Whole-of-Australian-Government Coordinated Procurements
Phase 2 Travel Services Arrangements
The Department of Finance and Deregulation (Finance) has now released all its Requests for Tender (RFTs) for Phase 2 of the Australian Government travel services arrangements. Phase 2 involves conducting separate tenders for travel and related (payment) card services, accommodation program management services and car rental services.
The Car Rental Services RFT (FIN11/FMG020) and the Accommodation Program Management Services RFT (FIN11/FMG019) are available on AusTender [
], the Australian Government's tender system. Access to the Travel and Related Card Services RFT requires pre-registration, and the Tender Registration Form and its associated Deed of Undertaking are also available on AusTender (FIN11/FMG032).
A Position Paper [
417KB] articulating the indicative strategy for the Government’s Phase 2 travel services arrangements has been prepared. The paper also sets out key interrelationships and dependencies; explores implementation at the officer level; and suggests areas that could be reviewed for potential future value in Government travel contracting arrangements. The strategy was developed through consultation with Government agencies and industry, with the latter including publicly released Requests for Information relating to card services and accommodation services in mid‑2011.
In the interim, until the Phase 2 contracts are in place, Government departments and agencies must consider the Revised Transitional Arrangements for Coordinated Procurement prior to procuring any of the services subject to WoAG arrangements.
Any questions about Phase 2 can be emailed to phase2travel@finance.gov.au.
Version 2 – Basic Contract Suite (BCS) released 1 July 2011
The second version of the Basic Contract Suite (BCS) was published on the AusTender [
] website on 1 July 2011. The new version of the BCS includes minor changes from Agencies based on their use. Also included is the new General Purchase Order Conditions. You can view or download Version 2 of the BCS from the AusTender [] website. The previous version, along with the changes made from the first version are accessible at http://www.finance.gov.au/procurement/StandardDocumentSuite-PreviousVersions.html.
For further information please contact forum@finance.gov.au.
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