- Government puts out request for potential tenders for a lead advisory role in the NBN implementation
- It consists of a two-stage selection process
- Role may go to a consortium of companies or people
Late Friday afternoon saw government tender documents released for a lead advisory role for the National Broadband Network (NBN) implementation study.
The documents, put forward by the Department of Broadband Communications and the Digital Economy (DBCDE), are a Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI) for the provision of lead advisory services relating to the implementation study.
The purpose of the REOI, consisting of 39 pages, is to compile a shortlist of respondents who are “able to demonstrate their ability to provide the required services to the required standard.”
Once respondents are shortlisted they will then be invited to participate in the Request for Tender (RFT) process.
The DBCDE has outlined in the documents that only those with “relevant experience” in lead advisory services will be considered.
“Only Respondents with relevant experience and expertise in providing Lead Advisory services relating to large complex transactions or projects, over a tight timeframe should respond,” the document stated.
The closing date for expressions of willingness to tender to the advisory role is May 19th, with the government hoping to finalise those who expressed their tender by June 16th.
“It is envisaged that the successful Tenderers(s) will commence work on the NBN implementation study immediately after the selection process is completed, subject to the conclusion of suitable contractual arrangements with the Department.”
“Responses to the REOI will be evaluated to compile a shortlist of prospective service providers able to demonstrate that they have the capability to perform the required tasks.”
In conducting the evaluation of EOIs the government has stated that the following criteria will be assessed:
- Service delivery and management;
- capability;
- capacity;
- probity and accountability;
- and financial viability.
It has also been made clear that the DBCDE may not just hire one person or company, stating in its request that multiple tenders may apply as one.
Just who is applying remains unknown, and whether the government will remain “open and transparent” in the RFT process is also unknown.
As pointed out by The Age, the Department for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (DBCDE) will soon begin scouring the web for mentions of their department.
A tender for what they are seeking can be found on Aus Tender, a website used by the Australian Government for available business opportunities.
The tender put forward by the DBCDE states that they are:
“…seeking to obtain a comprehensive digital monitoring service for print and electronic media across all of the Broadband, Communications and Digital Economy portfolio.”
In clarifying what ‘electronic media’ was, the DBCDE outlined in an addendum:
“The term electronic media refers to online media. Key websites include (but are not limited to): all Australian newspaper sites, ABC Asia Pacific News, ABC News Online, ARNet, ITnews Australia, news.com.au, ninemsn news, ZDNet Australia, Nine MSN, ABC Online and blogs such as whirlpool etc.”
It’s seen as an interesting move by the department, and as pointed out by The Age, somewhat contradictory. Contradictory because the Senator for the department, Stephen Conroy, voiced his views in Germany not that long ago that it was a “really positive sign” that the Singaporean Government had given up on monitoring Blogs.
The whole tender idea reminded me of the ABC Hollowmen program.
Here’s an extract from the Hollowmen site:
The Hollowmen is a comedy-drama set in the offices of the Central Policy Unit, a special think tank personally set up by the Prime Minister to help him in the most important job of all – getting re-elected.
Their brief is “long term vision”; to stop worrying about tomorrow’s headlines, and focus on next week’s.
The tender process closes on the 30th of March, just before the Australian Government budget is due.
The Department for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy has refused Tech Wired access to documents containing information regarding the National Broadband Network.
Received just yesterday was a 17-page document containing several reasons as to why the Government will not release The Panel of Experts’ Report detailing suggestions for a winning NBN tender.
You can download the 17-page report here.
Nikki Vajrabukka, Acting Assistant Secretary told Tech Wired:
“I decide that the Report is wholly exempt under section 34 and section 36 of the FOI Act and therefore it is not to be released”.
Section 34 details the release of Cabinet documents under the Freedom of Information Act. The images below shows why a Cabinet document can not be released:
Since when did the Experts’ Panel Report become a cabinet document? According to the 17-page report, it refers to letters sent out to the panel members which suggest they:
“…provide its recommendations to the Government”
The report also states a press release from Senator Conroy saying:
“…the Government is now considering the Panel of Experts’ Report”
Nikki Vajrabukka decided that “the Government” should be taken to mean “the Cabinet” and therefore a refusal to the report.
As to section 36? As the report is an internal working document described below in the image, it is also refused release.
You may note that release is granted if the document is in the public’s interest, but of course the Department denied that on the grounds that:
“…the factors against disclosure of the Report outweigh the factors in favour of disclosure of the Report. That is, disclosure would in my view be contrary to the public interest. Having regard to the contents of the Report, I have decided the Report is wholly exempt under subsection 36(1).”
It’s clear as to why the government don’t want anyone knowing what’s in the report. With journalists speculating left, right and centre, why not take an evidence based approach I thought? Though, it seems I was left with a dead parrot.
So what did we learn?
Tech Wired learned that:
“The Minister [Senator Conroy] will make the final decision on the outcomes of the RFP process following consultation with Cabinet and Cabinet agreement to any proposed legislative changes”
We also learned that the ACCC’s separate advice will be attached to the Panel of Experts’ Report as part of the NBN process and consultation with Cabinet.
As to what remains unknown is the day Senator Conroy will announce the winning tenderer, will it be CommsDay? With Kevin Rudd out of town, many say not, but if that’s the case it’ll be past Conroy’s time (stated in Hansard) of:
“By March”.
