Defence will call for bids shortly for panels to define, supply, install and help operate information technology and telecommunications systems in the Department, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Senator Eric Abetz, said today.
The current arrangement to meet a broad range of IT and telecommunications requirements - the Defence Preferred Systems Integrator (DPSI) Panel comprising five panellists - will be expiring after more than five years of operation.
"Reviews of the current DPSI Panel indicate there is a continuing need for the capability offered by the current Panel," Senator Abetz said. "Defence has prepared a project plan that addresses the higher level conceptual framework and requirements to replace it."
The plan, which supersedes a draft released in April, proposes three replacement panels each to be tendered separately:
* A Project Specification and Project Management Panel that will provide specialist expertise in the definition of Defence requirements; *A System Design and Integration Panel for the supply and installation of systems to Defence specifications; and *A Facilities and Systems Management Panel that will assist Defence in operating its IT and telecommunications systems.
"The aims of the new arrangement are to contribute to Defence capability, establish an effective procurement process and to implement effective industry relationships," Senator Abetz said. "This ensures consistency with the Government's Defence Industry Strategic Policy Statement of 1998."
The Parliamentary Secretary said advantages of the refined structure include improved access by Defence to project management and specification capabilities within industry.
"Improving the quality of Defence specifications will mean that requirements are better articulated, with consequent benefits for industry and Defence in the delivery of systems," he said. "It will also mean better demarcation between the internal definition/specification and the external implementation aspects of Defence procurement processes.
"And there should be increased access by industry to niche markets in Defence procurements, including specific initiatives for providing enhanced opportunities for small to medium enterprises," Senator Abetz said.
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Defence To Call Tenders For IT And Telecommunications Panels
