Election 2013: Government IT Election 2013: Government IT

The Federal Government has boasted of millions of dollars in savings generated from its coordinated approach to ICT procurement. The strategy has been to trade membership of exclusive markets through restricted panels for hefty discounts on everything from desktop hardware and Microsoft licences to floor space in data centres.

The Coalition plans to turn this on its head, scrapping the panels in favour of a single central list of suppliers vetted to supply to government across all goods and services categories. It says that this will avoid the costs of bidding for a panel place, which can exceed $40,000.

Labor:

  • Fixed term procurement panels for commodity goods and services, including ICT
  • Savings generated by leveraging coordinated buying power in exchange for discounts
  • Agencies required to consider cloud options as part of new ICT procurements
  • ICT procurement overseen by the Department of Finance and Deregulation
  • Panels mandated but agency autonomy in other buying areas

    • Coalition:

  • One central panel of all prequalified suppliers, including ICT
  • Savings generated by minimising administrative costs and red-tape
  • Advocate ‘cloud first’ approach where cloud options would be selected as default
  • ICT procurement overseen by the Department of Finance and Deregulation
  • ICT spending audit
  • Allow ‘heavy user’ agencies to maintain IT autonomy while ‘light user’ agencies move to cloud or shared solutions

    • Defence picks Lockheed Martin for mammoth compute deal

    Defence picks Lockheed Martin for mammoth compute deal

    Exclusive: IBM misses out on key contract.
    Paris Cowan May 1 2014 5:48PM Networking
    Aus Govt CTO hits back at procurement criticism

    Aus Govt CTO hits back at procurement criticism

    Sheridan says IT arrangements are working fine.
    Paris Cowan Apr 29 2014 6:38AM Strategy
    Defence given $48m buffer for distributed computing

    Defence given $48m buffer for distributed computing

    Total approved funding much higher than quoted.
    Paris Cowan Apr 22 2014 6:54AM Hardware
    ATO to reform IT contractor procurement

    ATO to reform IT contractor procurement

    Rethinks $36m panel.
    Allie Coyne Mar 21 2014 10:37AM Strategy
    IT procurement left out of red tape repeal day

    IT procurement left out of red tape repeal day

    But AIIA bullish about reforms.
    John Hilvert Mar 21 2014 6:55AM Strategy
    SA Health accused of probity errors and project failures

    SA Health accused of probity errors and project failures

    Opposition vows to investigate department if elected.
    Paris Cowan Mar 13 2014 5:49AM Strategy
    ServiceNow speaks out on government cloud policy

    ServiceNow speaks out on government cloud policy

    A second SaaS vendor claims that blanket security stifles uptake.
    Paris Cowan Mar 11 2014 6:22AM Security
    Victoria rethinks PC purchasing

    Victoria rethinks PC purchasing

    Wants staff to buy their own devices off panel.
    Paris Cowan Mar 5 2014 12:18PM Hardware
    Qld emergency services to buy payroll “as-a-service”

    Qld emergency services to buy payroll “as-a-service”

    Looks to outsource pay run of 13,000 workers.
    Paris Cowan Feb 19 2014 6:35AM Software
    Tenders called for $216m DFAT network replacement

    Tenders called for $216m DFAT network replacement

    Ageing infrastructure failing to meet modern demands.
    Paris Cowan Feb 3 2014 6:30AM Networking
    NSW prepares for expansion of ID scanner roll-out

    NSW prepares for expansion of ID scanner roll-out

    Trial of 35 Kings Cross venues could grow to over 300.
    Paris Cowan Jan 30 2014 6:00AM Hardware
    UK knifes 'bloated and wasteful' IT deals

    UK knifes 'bloated and wasteful' IT deals

    Government won't sign any deals over £100 million.
    Juha Saarinen Jan 27 2014 9:55AM Strategy
    NSW government dumps telco procurement panels

    NSW government dumps telco procurement panels

    GTAs to lapse, new purchasing to be scrutinised by consultants.
    Paris Cowan Jan 23 2014 12:45PM Telco/ISP
    Defence calls off massive IT outsourcing tender

    Defence calls off massive IT outsourcing tender

    Distributed computing contracts to remain untested for two more years.
    Paris Cowan Jan 9 2014 12:55PM Strategy
    WA official faces prosecution over software favours

    WA official faces prosecution over software favours

    Gifts for contracts exchange uncovered.
    Paris Cowan Jan 7 2014 1:24PM Software
    WA govt hits go on $52m network infrastructure panel

    WA govt hits go on $52m network infrastructure panel

    Twelve vendors to share the pie.
    Paris Cowan Dec 4 2013 3:17PM Networking
    Qld agencies blowing out procurement costs

    Qld agencies blowing out procurement costs

    Few users of whole-of-gov system.
    Allie Coyne Dec 4 2013 1:08PM Financial Services
    Qld to set up whole-of-gov cloud infrastructure panel

    Qld to set up whole-of-gov cloud infrastructure panel

    Submissions due after Christmas.
    Paris Cowan Dec 2 2013 12:47PM Networking
    Govt introduces tablets to mobile panel overhaul

    Govt introduces tablets to mobile panel overhaul

    Device management solutions also likely new addition.
    Paris Cowan Oct 29 2013 1:56PM Telco/ISP
    Sheridan declares DCaaS multi-use list a success

    Sheridan declares DCaaS multi-use list a success

    Australian Govt CTO 'very happy'.
    Paris Cowan Oct 28 2013 6:19AM Strategy

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