DTA seeks to overhaul procurement panels


By Dylan Bushell-Embling
Wednesday, 13 June, 2018

DTA seeks to overhaul procurement panels

The Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) is inviting feedback on a draft update to the government's ICT procurement panel policy, aimed at improving the experience of buying and selling digital products to government.

The new draft policy has been developed by the DTA in conjunction with representatives from the ATO, the Australian Digital Health Agency and the departments of Defence, Finance, Human Services and Home Affairs.

It lays out eight proposed principles that would underpin all digital panels, including stipulating that they be for commonly used and clearly defined products and services.

Panels should also be open to all agencies with multi-agency access clauses, be available for more sellers to apply to join, be designed to avoid duplicating existing panels or categories within panels, and be registered on a single cross-government digital platform.

The principles also stipulate that panels be regularly monitored and assessed, allow for regular updates of pricing and categories, and potentially use a consistent and user-centred design in terms of quotes, templates, terms and conditions, and reporting.

The policy was developed based on DTA research showing that there is a need for a common understanding and definition of digital products and services.

The research also identified a need for more oversight of procurement panels, as well as frustration among buyers and sellers around the number of panels, the duplication of services across panels, inconsistent management of the panels, and the fact that panel refreshes are confusing.

In response the new policy suggests that a body takes responsibility for oversight of ICT procurement panels, establishing and maintaining a central register of panels and helping buyers and sellers follow the principles of the policy.

Meanwhile, the DTA has also released for feedback the second component of the Trusted Digital Identity Framework that will underpin the government's planned single digital identity for individuals.

The latest component of the framework covers technical information, including the rules and standards for accreditation governance, service operations and technical integration requirements.

The release builds on the first components of the planned framework, which were published in February following more than two years of research and consultation.

Image credit: ©iStockphoto.com/arcoss

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