Health reviews ICT sourcing strategy

The Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) has gone to market for advice on a new strategy for its sourcing of its core ICT services, including platforms, infrastructure, applications and support.

Health sought to develop a new strategy for a range of contracts due to expire between now and June 2015, including some $32 million a year of deals with IBM, Optus, Telstra and Verizon.

Tender documents revealed an IT environment comprising 6000 desktops and laptops, 214 applications, 300 servers, a 330-MIP mainframe, 6000 VoIP handsets and about 1200 mobile devices including mobile phones, Blackberries and broadband cards.

IBM was responsible for providing infrastructure services, under a relationship that commenced in 2000 and was renewed in 2010 for $109 million over four years.

Health said it relied "primarily on end-user computing and midrange platforms, with a lesser dependence on its IBM mainframe".

Its applications ran primarily on Windows- and Linux-based midrange platforms, with all servers and desktops virtualised "where practical", using VMware technology.

Health called for a consultant to:

• Develop and provide advice on appropriate options for the provision of core ICT services;
• Develop an ICT sourcing strategy in line with the department's risk profile and business requirements;
• Provide a project plan to implement the proposed strategy; and
• Provide professional skills to develop the proposed ICT sourcing strategy.

The consultant would be precluded from tendering for any further work that might result from the new strategy, to avoid any conflicts of interest.

Health's request for tender closes on September 28. The consultancy will run for a three month period with options to extend up to a further two months.