Defence invites ICT procurement advice

Considers establishing service provider panel.

The Department of Defence has revealed plans to establish a panel of application and systems integration service providers as part of its ICT procurement strategy.

The department's Chief Information Officer Group (CIOG) this week kicked off a review of the sourcing strategy, inviting industry members to provide written feedback on a market research discussion brief.

According to the brief, the non-exclusive panel would cover development and integration projects; managed services, including sustainment and labour.

The CIOG called for information and feedback to assist it in refining its commercial model, panel governance requirements, market engagement strategy and scope.

It sought recommendations in determining the optimal number of panel members, and making panel membership attractive to the industry.

Defence expected to be able to add capacity quickly through the panel, and sought feedback on any issues associated with obtaining security clearances for personnel and secured facilities.

"How can CIOG ensure that the Panel's scope is broad enough to cover all potential future requirements?" the group wrote.

"How could vendor performance measures be aligned with Defence interests?"

Stating that the panel, if proceeded with, would be established through an open request for tender, Defence noted that the market research was neither an invitation to register interest to join the panel, nor a binding undertaking of any kind.

The review followed Federal plans to use whole-of-Government procurement panels that saw Defence establish a Desktop ICT Equipment panel last year, ahead of a 115-seat desktop overhaul.

Submissions to the sourcing strategy review were invited until 2pm on 25 September.