Victoria seeks IT suppliers

The Victorian Government is seeking small and midsized IT providers to appoint to its eServices panel of pre-approved service suppliers.

Marsha Thomson, ICT minister for Victoria, said the volume of business through the two-year-old panel had doubled in the past year, from 94 projects in February 2004 to 194 projects in December.

Large or small IT companies wanting to win Victorian Government IT business were now being sought to "refresh" the eServices panel, she said.

"Almost 80 percent of the panel is made up of either Victorian or Australian companies and the eServices panel has been highly successful for Victorian SMBs," Thomson said.

"Victorian IT companies have been selected for 60 percent or $5.7 million of Government business awarded to the panel since February 2004, up from 45 percent the year before."

Nearly $10 million-worth of work had been awarded to panel members since February 2004. Preferred suppliers developed partnerships with government departments and could showcase work to potential customers via the panel, she said.

Being on the panel meant fewer overheads and easier processes for engagement with the Victorian Government, Thomson said.

Companies with expertise on application development and electronic service delivery were wanted.

"We've also included new sub-categories covering IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) contracting and consulting services, IT Security Services and Open Source development and implementation services to respond to emerging demands in Government," she said.

The Request for Tender for the Whole of Victorian Government eServices panel refresh would be released 26 January 2005 via www.tenders.vic.gov.au. Closing date for requests for tender would be 24 February.