1001.0 - Australian Bureau of Statistics -- Annual Report, 2007-08  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 05/12/2008   
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Contents >> Section VIII - Appendices >> Appendix 3 Consultancy services

Policy on selection and engagement of consultants

ABS policy on the selection and engagement of consultants is consistent with ABS Chief Executive Instructions (CEIs), and the Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines. The ABS selects and engages consultants in a way that provides value for money.

Total consultancies let in 2007–08

During 2007–08, the total expenditure on consultancies was $677,999. Twenty-four new consultancies were engaged to carry out projects, or provide professional and technical advice that could not be provided by staff of the ABS. The total expenditure of these was $584,843. Six consultancies had been let in previous years, and continued into 2007–08, with an expenditure of $93,156 during 2007–08.

Appendix table 3.1 shows the total expenditure on all consultancies for 2004–05 to 2007–08. The larger consultancy contracts (those to the value of $10,000 or more) are detailed in Appendix table 3.2, along with brief notes on the procurement method used.

Appendix Table 3.1: Consultancy services engaged by the ABS

Consultancies (number)
Expenditure ($) including GST
2004–05
24
825,069
2005–06
37
941,861
2006–07
23
794,618
2007–08
30
677,999

Appendix Table 3.2: Consultancy services contracts let in 2007–08 to the value of $10,000 or more

Vendor NameDescription
Amount (including GST)
Justification and Type of tender (1)
Access Testing Pty LtdCensus output web load and performance testing.
$29,392
Select Tender (a) (d)
Answerz Pty LtdRe-Certification of ABS internet gateway.
$17,894
Select Tender (a)
Bibliology Pty LtdManaging ABS IT museum collection for ABS library.
$13,968
Direct Sourcing (a)
CorefilingXBRL tools licence and related integration and support services.
$17,300
Open Tender (a)
Dimension Data Pty LtdAssist in the design and build of voice and data networks.
$20,851
Direct Sourcing (d)
Excelerated ConsultingDevelopment financial management software.
$17,146
Select Tender (a)
IBM Australia LtdAssist with the development of the costing scenario for the People Processes Service improvement project proposal.
$22,044
Direct Sourcing (a)
Information Management Australia Pty LtdAssistance with setting up evaluation matrix for evaluating XBRL tools tender.
$15,400
Direct Sourcing (a)
KBRPhysical security review for ABS House.
$33,537
Select Tender (a) (d)
King PartnershipData modelling and government harmonisation for Standard
Business Reporting.
$109,995
Direct Sourcing (a)
Little Oak Pty LtdAdvise and assist the ABS on issues related to Metadata and provide information on industry and academic developments related to Metadata technology.
$15,239
Direct Sourcing (a)
Nirmana Pty LtdTechnical assistance to the Vanuatu National Statistics Office to compile, produce and publish the 2006 National Accounts.
$27,500
Direct Sourcing (c)
Peter Collins and Associates Pty LtdProvision of, and guidance with, implementing a Strategic
Alignment Program.
$58,941
Direct Sourcing (a)
Leon PietschTechnical assistance to the Vanuatu National Statistics Offices for the Household Income and
Expenditure Survey.
$32,137
Direct Sourcing (a) (c)
Sigma Management Science Pty LtdProject assurance advisory role for Standard Business Reporting project.
$39,600
Direct Sourcing (a)
Tactics Consulting
Pty Ltd		Keep the knowledge project initiation & Beta version.
$33,000
Direct Sourcing (a)
Terry OffnerTechnical assistance to the Vanuatu National Statistics Office to assist with the rebase of the Consumer Price Index.
$19,120
Direct Sourcing (a) (c)
The Academy of the Social Sciences in AustraliaGrant for writing research papers for a CAP project.
$100,000
Direct Sourcing (a)

(1) Explanation of selection process terms drawn from the Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines (January 2005):

Open Tender: A procurement procedure in which a request for tender is published inviting all businesses that satisfy the conditions for participation to submit tenders. Public tenders are sought from the marketplace using national and major metropolitan newspaper advertising and the Australian Government AusTender Internet site.

Select Tender: A procurement procedure in which the procuring agency selects which potential suppliers are invited to submit tenders. Tenders are invited from a short list of competent suppliers.

Direct Sourcing: A form of restricted tendering, available only under certain defined circumstances, with a single potential supplier or suppliers being invited to bid because of their unique expertise and/or their special ability to supply the goods and/or services sought.

Panel: An arrangement under which a number of suppliers, usually selected through a single procurement process, may each supply property or services to an agency as specified in the panel arrangements. Tenders are sought from suppliers that have pre-qualified on the agency panels to supply to the government. This category includes standing offers and supplier panels where the consultant offers to supply goods and services for pre-determined length of time, usually at a pre-arranged price.

Justification for recourse to consultancy arrangements:
(a) Need for specialised skills
(b) Need for access to the latest technology and experience in its application
(c) Lack of available in-house resources
(d) Need for an independent study.




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