The department engages external consultants to support departmental activities where:
- specialised expertise is not available in-house; or
- an independent assessment or evaluation is required.
Before engaging external consultants the department determines whether;
- the proposed assignment is feasible and essential to the efficient and effective operation of the department; and
- use of the consultant will be cost-effective.
Once a need for external consultants is established, the department ensures that the selection process;
- observes government and departmental procurement policies;
- is publicly defensible, promoting fair competition and effective service;
- is based on pre-determined selection criteria; and
- satisfies best value for money.
Market testing occurs through public invitation or approaching a sufficiently representative number of potential consultants.
During 1999–2000, 91 consultants were engaged at a total cost of $11.6m.
| Table 79: consultants engaged by Corporate Development Division | ||||
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| EDIME Internet Agency | Website redesign and specialist mark-up |
$44 552
|
No – continuation of existing contract | specialist skills not available within department |
| IBM Consultancy | Development of the Electronic Service Delivery Strategy and identification of business opportunities for e-commerce |
$193 953
|
No – engaged under existing contract with IBM GSA | breadth of industry knowledge not held within department |
| KPMG Consulting | Assistance with the preparation of 99–00 financial statements |
$60 000
|
Yes | expert independent knowledge |
| Ernst & Young | Project Director for upgrade of FMIS |
$41 991
|
No – existing contract | resources not available in DVA |
| Ernst & Young | Strategic Review Services |
$591 000
|
Yes | rollup from 98/99 |
| Ernst & Young | IT Audit Services |
$386 900
|
Yes | extension options exercised |
| Quality Software Products Ltd | Upgrade of FMIS and development of reports |
$285 800.50
|
No – existing contract | expertise and resources not available in DVA |
| Azimuth Consulting | Acceptance testing for FMIS upgrade |
$77 577.85
|
No – direct engagement | testers experienced in FMISAustralia Ltd software – resources not available in DVA. |
| Ernst & Young | Implementation of Agency Banking and Cash Management |
$37 207.44
|
No – restricted tender | Government Financial Reform Agenda |
| Ernst & Young | Post Implementation Review – Agency Banking and Cash Management |
$63 628.62
|
No – restricted tender | Government Financial Reform Agenda |
| PSI Consulting Pty Ltd | Provide methodology and facilitate tender evaluation for WWII military service records data conversion |
$12 655.71
|
No – direct engagement | proprietary tender evaluation methodology; consultant previously utilised |
| Office of the Board of Studies NSW | Develop educational website |
$20 000
|
No – direct engagement | specialist expertise not available within the department |
| Brightigher | Develop educational resource materials |
$51 694
|
No – selective tender | specialist expertise not available within the department |
| Consultant | Project |
Cost
|
Advertised | Justification |
| PSI Consulting Pty Ltd | Provide methodology and facilitate tender evaluation for Australians at War documentary series |
$24 420.28
|
No – direct engagement | proprietary tender evaluation methodology |
| Beyond Productions Pty Ltd Crawford Productions Film Australia Look Television Productions TVU |
Provide enhanced tender for television documentary series Australians at War |
$15 000 per consultant
|
Yes | specialist expertise not available within department |
| Beyond Productions Pty Ltd | Produce television documentary series Australians at War |
$2 790 886
|
Yes | specialist expertise not available within department |
| The Rowland Company | Develop commemorative activities options – Centenary of Federation |
$12 000
|
No – selective tender | independent assessment considered desirable |
| Ryebuck Media | Develop CD-ROM for use in commemorative program presentations |
$25 000
|
No – direct engagement | specialist expertise not available within department |
| Radiowise | Develop Remembrance Day promotional material for radio |
$12 500
|
No – direct engagement | specialist expertise not available within department |
| Radiowise | Develop Gallipoli promotional material for radio |
$22 500
|
No – direct engagement | specialist expertise not available within department |
| NRS Group | Produce Korean War commemorative video for screening in USA |
$12 842
|
No – direct engagement | specialist expertise not available within the department |
| Upton Martin Consulting | Leadership Program |
$83 042
|
Yes | specialist expertise required |
| People & Strategy | Delivery of Performance Development & Review training |
$24 074
|
No – ongoing | expertise not available in-house |
| Mercer Cullen Egan Dell | Development of DVA Work Level Standards |
$43 038
|
No – ongoing | expertise not available in-house |
| Congruent Professional | PAHRIS upgrade |
$80 319
|
No – invited tender | specialist expertise requiredServices |
| Ernst & Young | PAHRIS upgrade |
$32 240
|
No – invited tender | specialist expertise required |
| Consultant | Project |
Cost
|
Advertised | Justification |
| Dorothy Outram and Associates | Provision of training courses in writing replies to Ministerial representations, Briefs and Submissions |
$26 000
|
No – direct selection | specialist expertise not availablewithin DVA |
| Synercon Management | Change management for Integrated Document Management System Project |
$39 900
|
No | lack of in-house skills Consulting P/L |
| Siller Systems Administration | Thesaurus maintenance and records management training |
$21 934
|
No – limited tender | lack of in-house expertise |
| AIMA Training and Consultancy Ltd | Recommendations on directions of library services |
$10 700
|
No – limited tender | expertise in the field; prior experience with DVA |
| Four Design | Design 1998–99 Annual Report |
$13 909
|
No – selected from panel | lack of resources in-house |
| Capital Art | Design clinical pathways manual |
$11 480
|
No – selected from panel | lack of resources in-house |
| Table 80: consultants engaged by Health Division | ||||
| Covance Pty Ltd | Development of a statistical profile of future health needs of veterans |
$76 250
|
No | lack of skills in-house |
| Aged Care and Housing Group Inc | Obtain and analyse information on veteran access to community support service |
$84 800
|
No | lack of skills in-house |
| Dr Darby | Research into healing in ageing and diabetes |
$10 500
|
No | lack of skills in-house |
| United Medical Group | SA & TAS veteran partnering private hospital tendering process |
$106 408
|
No | lack of in-house expertise |
| United Medical Group | NSW & QLD veteran partnering private hospital tendering process |
$36 280.40 ($100 000 Standing Offer)
|
No | lack of in-house expertise |
| PALM Management Pty Ltd | Independent member of SA & TAS veteran partnering process |
$13 428
|
No | lack of in-house expertise |
| Clauden Pty Ltd | VIC, SA & TAS veteran partnering private hospital tendering process |
$326 865.97
|
No | lack of in-house expertise |
| Clauden Pty Ltd | NSW & QLD veteran partnering private hospital tendering process |
$45 826 ($100 000 Standing Offer)
|
No | lack of in-house expertise |
| Australian Healthcare Associates Pty Ltd | Audit of DVA contracted community nursing organisations |
$947 900
|
Yes | independent assessment required |
| Health Outcomes International Pty Ltd | Evaluation and validation of community nursing fees |
$250 000
|
Yes | independent assessment required |
| Bendigo Health Care Group | Develop community nursing clinical pathways |
$93 895
|
No | extension of previous contract |
| Centre for Allied Health Research – University of SA | Report on research measures of health care outcomes associated with allied health care groups |
$48 881
|
No | independent assessment required |
| Health Outcomes International Pty Ltd | Report on availability, procurement options and quality of rehabilitation aids and appliances and medical grade footwear |
$94 721
|
No | independent assessment required |
| Ms Shirley Batho | Community nursing reforms |
$82 382
|
No | specialised experience not available within DVA |
| ACT Community Care | Conduct a trial of health outcome measures |
$18 804
|
No | experienced in similar trials |
| National Exceptional Case Coordination Unit | Administrative costs for community nursing assessments of veterans and war widows/widowers |
$79 918
|
No | central organisation withdrew from its contract. Staff contracted individually. |
| Ms Alison Chandler | Conduct community nursing assessments |
$18 789
|
No | as above |
| Mr Quoc Nguyen | Provide research services to the National Exceptional Case Coordination Unit |
$19 321
|
No | as above |
| Ms Jeanette Budak | Coordinate nursing assessments conducted by the National Exceptional Case Coordination Unit |
$20 708
|
No | as above |
| Ms Sonia Crescitelli | Provide administrative and secretarial services to the National Exceptional Case Coordination Unit |
$11 268
|
No | as above |
| Northern Sydney Home Nursing Service | Provide an experienced community nurse to provide expert community nursing assessments |
$21 039
|
No | as above |
| Bendigo Health Care Group | Develop a comprehensive education program to promote the successful implementation of clinical pathways |
$29 870
|
No | extension of previous contract |
| Ms Julie Rose | Developing Phase 1 of the Nursing Services Package in preparation for distribution to nursing providers |
$11 069
|
No | lack of in-house skills |
| Rehab Tech | Research development of artificial limbs, aids and appliances, technical advice, evaluation of prosthetic and orthoticappliances, clinical trials, education and training for providers |
$513 333
|
No | ongoing consultancy |
| Mr Michael Baker | Review of the booked car with driver service |
$37 660
|
No – nominations sought from 4 agencies. | independent assessment required |
| Mr Daniel Wong | Provision of services in support of the administration of the Repatriation Transport Scheme |
$10 735
|
No – nominations sought from 6 agencies. | lack of in-house skills. |
| Ms Margaret Morgan | Day Care Club adviser NSW |
$52 000
|
No – renewal of existing contract | specialist expertise not available in DVA |
| Ms Maria Beukers | Day Care Club adviser NSW |
$38 500
|
No – renewal of existing contract | specialist expertise not available in DVA |
| Ms Kathy Bennett | Volunteer services |
$36 500
|
No | specialist expertise not available in DVA |
| Ms Pam Percic | Clinical requirements for home nursing |
$65 000
|
Yes | clinical expertise not available in DVA |
| Ms Antoinette Fahey | Clinical requirements for home nursing |
$65 000
|
Yes | clinical expertise not available in DVA |
| Ms Janette Williams | Clinical requirements for home nursing |
$65 000
|
Yes | clinical expertise not available in DVA |
| Mrs Helen Heacock | Technical Writer services for development of user documentation for RTCPS |
$36 600
|
No – nominations sought | lack of in-house skillsfrom 4 agencies. |
| Mrs Elizabeth Parbury | Coordination and recruitment of participants in health care planning trial |
$60 000
|
Yes | specialised skills not available within DVA |
| Consultant | Project |
Cost
|
Advertised | Justification |
| Mr Afzal Hossain | Data analysis for the evaluation of the effectiveness of health care planning |
$50 000
|
Yes | lack of in-house skills |
| National Centre for Epidemiology and Population health, Australian National University | Evaluation of the effectiveness of Health Care planning |
$100 000
|
No. | specialised skills not available within DVA |
| HealthCare Management Pty Ltd | Analysis and evaluation of pathology services and advice on opportunities for improved purchasing arrangements in conjunction with the Department of Defence |
$45 000
|
No. | the consultant undertook a similar exercise for the Department of Defence and continuity was required |
| L Mays | Health Care Plan Data Management |
$19 350
|
Yes | specialised skills not available within DVA |
|
Effective People (Argemone Pty Ltd) |
Consultancy Services VAPAC |
$20 200
|
Yes | specialised skills not available within DVA |
| Argemone Pty Ltd | Consultancy Services VAPAC |
$121 800
|
No | specialised skills not available within DVA |
| Quality Medication Care Pty Ltd | Evaluation and Consultancy |
$60 000 pa + $125 p/h as required
|
No | expertise in similar projects with DVA |
| SmithKline Beecham (Aust) Pty Ltd (Diversified Health Systems Australia) |
Prescriber Intervention and Feedback Program |
$2 244 000 ($561 000 per quarter)
|
Yes | specialised skills not available within DVA |
| Steven Giacomelli | Consultancy Services, Pharmacy |
$79 872
|
Yes | specialised skills not available within DVA |
| Hospital Pharmacy Services | Education Program to improve Medication Management of veterans in nursing homes |
$20 100
|
Yes | specialised skills not available within DVA |
| Pharmaceutical Society of Australia / Bearcage Productions | Revision of MediWise video and kit |
$72 554
|
Yes | specialised skills not available within DVA |
| Aged Services Australia | Education Program to improve Medication Management of veterans in nursing homes |
$45 000
|
Yes | specialised skills not available within DVA |
| Acumen Alliance | Costing of VAPAC |
$32 000
|
Yes | independent assessment required |
| PRWorks | Public relations services for Veterans' Home Care program |
$30 500
|
No | lack of resources in-house |
| Table 81: consultants engaged by Compensation and Support Division | ||||
| I-Case International | rapid change methodology for IT systems changes | $132 000 | No – existing contract | expertise not available within DVA |
| Orima Research | Savings Bonus information Product testing | $13 731.05 | No | same provider used by Centrelink |
| TSG Australia Pty Ltd | Development of the online DVA FORMS System | $17 600 | Yes | previous expertise in DVA Facts system |
| ORIMA Research Pty Ltd | Bring 'Em Back evaluation | $16,946.50 | No | independent assessment required |
| Table 82: consultants engaged by the Military Compensation and Rehabilitation Service | ||||
| Acumen Alliance | $18 204 | No | expertise not available within DVA | |
| SMS | Actuarial Services | $100 737 | No | expertise not available within DVA |
| Department of the Treasury | Actuarial services | $43 053 | No | expertise not available within DVA |