computerwoche.de

Archiv

Australian agencies not clear about ICT buying plans

05.07.2006
Suppliers will have a tough time meeting the federal government's ICT (Information and Communications Technology) needs in the 2006-07 financial year, because not all agencies are forthcoming with procurement plans, according to market researcher Intermedium.

Procurement plans published by federal government agencies for the 2006-07 financial year contain a number of major ICT initiatives but the volume of plans posted by the big agencies is well below what is expected.

In a research note, Intermedium said more than 100 agencies have so far posted plans due by July 1, 2006.

The list includes 29 procurements by the Australian Department of Health and Ageing, nine by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and 14 at the Australian Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

Intermedium said the lead agency in coordinating publication of procurement plans, the Department of Finance and Administration, has once again set an example with a well-presented plan. DoFA lists a total of 70 projects, 15 of which are for ICT products and services.

The absence of any ICT procurements among the 43 projects listed by the Department of Defence is the biggest surprise in the 2006-07 plans. According to Intermedium, Defence reported ICT contracts worth A$831 million (US619.5 million) in 2004-05, which accounted for 28 percent of the federal government's total ICT contract value in that year.