Consultants and consultancy services
The department’s policy on selection and engaging consultants is in accordance with the Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines, based on the core principle of value for money.
Annual reports contain information about actual expenditure on contracts for consultancies. Information on the value of contracts and consultancies is available on the AusTender website.
During 2008–09, the department entered into 90 new consultancy contracts, involving total actual expenditure of
$7.44 million. In total, 125 ongoing consultancy contracts were active during 2008–09, involving total actual expenditure of $32.95 million.
Table 100 shows consultancy services of $10 000 or more in value, entered into during 2008–09.
Selection processes
Open tender is a procurement procedure in which a request for tender is published inviting all businesses that satisfy the conditions for participation to submit tenders.
Select tender is a procurement procedure in which the procuring agency selects potential suppliers to submit tenders in accordance with the Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines.
Direct sourcing is a procurement process in which an agency may contract a single potential supplier or suppliers of its choice. Where procurement is valued above the thresholds set out in the Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines, direct sourcing is available only under certain defined circumstances. Conditions for direct sourcing apply under the mandatory procurement procedures.
Justification for decisions
- need for independent research
or assessment - need for specialised or professional skills
- skills currently unavailable within agency.
Exempt contracts
Details of all contracts that have a value of $10 000 or more have been published on AusTender in accordance with the reporting requirements of the Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines. The department did not let any contracts in excess of $10 000 which were exempt from being published on AusTender during the year.
Table 100: Consultants and consultancy services| Consultant name | Description | Selection process | Justification | Contract price (GST inclusive) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Access Macquarie Ltd | Research project on Muslim political participation in Australia | Select | A, B, C | $88 000 |
| Adelaide Research and Innovation Pty Ltd |
Social and civic contributions of first and second generation Humanitarian entrants | Select | A | $199 056 |
| AFS Computer Forensics | IT forensic expert services | Direct | B, C | $21 214 |
| Allen Systems Group Inc | Rochade software enhancements | Direct | C | $50 000 |
| Australian Survey Research Group Pty Ltd | Analysis of litigation pathways of clients in immigration and community detention | Select | A | $118 979 |
| Australian Survey Research Group Pty Ltd | Settlement outcomes of new arrivals to Australia | Select | A | $199 717 |
| Booz & Company (Australia) Pty Ltd | Impact analysis of the Visa Services Transformation Project | Direct | A | $48 840 |
| Booz & Company (Australia) Pty Ltd | Overlaps and overheads review benchmarking | Direct | A, B, C | $88 550 |
| Booz & Company (Australia) Pty Ltd | Risk tiering and analytics consultancy services | Direct | B | $162 932 |
| Booz & Company (Australia) Pty Ltd | Consultancy services | Direct | B | $614 163 |
| Broadleaf Capital International Pty Ltd |
Risk and liability services | Select | B | $43 120 |
| Butler Group Asia Pacific |
Information communication technology reports and analysis | Direct | A, B | $33 000 |
| Centre for Multicultural Youth | AMEP and IHSS tender engagement of professional advisory services | Direct | B, C | $15 310 |
| Centre for Public Management Pty Ltd |
Appointment of code of conduct investigator | Select | A, B | $50 000 |
| City of Stirling | Facilitation of the Mirrabooka Multicultural Centre and subsequent feasibility study | Direct | B | $66 116 |
| Cogent Business Solutions Pty Ltd | Financial consulting | Direct | B | $21 800 |
| Cogent Business Solutions Pty Ltd | Financial advisor for IHSS contract management | Open | A | $21 800 |
| Cogent Business Solutions Pty Ltd | Financial advice services | Select | B | $33 365 |
| CPT Global Ltd | Independent review services | Direct | A | $50 000 |
| CSC Australia Pty Ltd |
Central Movement Alert List | Open | B | $4 134 281 |
| Cubit Media Research Pty Ltd | Contract for media positioning analysis | Direct | A | $27 775 |
| Cultural Perspectives Pty Ltd |
Research project on the civic and social participation of Muslim men in Australian society | Select | A, B, C | $110 000 |
| Deakin University | Learning and Development research services: Learning and career pathways | Select | A | $36 970 |
| Deakin University | Learning and Development research services: Leadership, management and succession management | Select | A | $43 790 |
| DLA Phillips Fox | Adult Migrant English Program and Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Strategy tenders probity advice | Open | B | $140 000 |
| Environmental Resources Management Australia Pty Ltd | Environmental planning services | Select | A, B | $68 469 |
| Ernst & Young | Costings of Humanitarian Program (DIAC component only) | Select | B | $32 999 |
| Ernst & Young | AMEP fraud risk assessment | Open | A | $35 701 |
| Ernst & Young | Internal audit services | Select | A | $36 297 |
| Ernst & Young | Student visas fraud risk assessment | Open | A | $42 350 |
| Ernst & Young | Internal audit services | Select | A | $42 716 |
| Ernst & Young | Development of DIAC evaluation framework | Select | B | $65 000 |
| Ernst & Young | Defined research projects | Select | A | $68 549 |
| Ernst & Young | AMEP quality assurance services (under provision of internal audit and risk management services) | Select | A | $86 821 |
| Executive Coaching | Executive coaching | Direct | B, C | $16 500 |
| Gartner Australasia Pty Ltd |
Analysis services | Direct | A | $577 405 |
| Global Foresight Network Pty Ltd | Staff training services | Open | B | $12 980 |
| Honeywell Ltd | Detailed energy study | Direct | A | $13 555 |
| Hugh Watson Consulting Pty Ltd |
Services to conduct a review to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the department’s National Communications Branch | Select | A | $40 755 |
| Ian V Johnsen | Professional supervision services | Select | B | $20 520 |
| Interaction Consulting Group Pty Ltd | National induction project | Open | B | $48 813 |
| KPMG | Transition scoping study | Open | A | $29 920 |
| KPMG | Supplementary panel for audit, risk management and fraud control services | Open | A | $80 419 |
| Leaf Software Engineering Pty Ltd |
Maintenance and enhancements to property management database | Direct | B | $10 329 |
| Lloyds Register Rail Ltd | Immigration EOC roster development | Select | B | $11 620 |
| National Institute of Labour Studies Incorporated | Long-term physical implications of net overseas migration |
Select | A | $249 964 |
| Oakton Services Pty Ltd trading as Oakton | Administrative fraud risk assessment | Select | B | $56 595 |
| Oakton Services Pty Ltd trading as Oakton | AMEP IHSS tenders probity audit |
Select | A, B | $137 700 |
| Oakton Services Pty Ltd trading as Oakton | Probity audit services in relation to SITS extension | Open | B | $22 950 |
| Organising Principles Group | Research project on refugee settlement and employment linkages | Direct | A | $54 865 |
| Orima Research Pty Ltd | Visa subclass 457 visa sponsor focus groups | Select | A | $66 902 |
| Pricewaterhouse Coopers |
Probity services in relation to SITS contract | Open | B | $37 437 |
| Pricewaterhouse Coopers |
Business advice services in relation to detention health services contracts | Open | B | $59 760 |
| Pricewaterhouse Coopers |
Business and financial advice | Open | B | $124 288 |
| Profmark Consulting Pty Ltd |
Legal services panel review | Select | A | $12 390 |
| Profmark Consulting Pty Ltd |
Survey of legal division stakeholders | Select | A | $32 380 |
| Protiviti Pty Ltd | Supplementary audit and business continuity panels | Open | A | $46 930 |
| Protiviti Pty Ltd | Supplementary audit and business continuity panels | Open | A | $70 435 |
| Protiviti Pty Ltd | Supplementary audit and business continuity panels | Open | A | $71 500 |
| Protiviti Pty Ltd | Supplementary audit and business continuity panels | Open | A | $77 000 |
| Refugee Council of Australia Inc | Report writing and research services (preparation of a submission representing RCOA’s views on the 2009–10 Humanitarian Program) | Direct | A | $79 674 |
| Refugee Council of Australia Inc | Literature review: Economic, social and civic contribution of humanitarian entrants | Select | A | $26 400 |
| Right Management Consultants Pty Ltd |
2008 staff survey—free text analysis | Open | B | $33 255 |
| Right Management Consultants Pty Ltd |
2008 staff survey—free text analysis | Open | A, B, C | $34 299 |
| RPV Consultants Pty Ltd | Information technology services | Open | B | $75 000 |
| SAP Australia Pty Ltd |
SAP ramp up coach | Direct | B, C | $36 000 |
| SMS (Total Learn) | Scoping study for the implementation of an LMS, PDS and 360 degree feedback | Open | B | $46 200 |
| Technology Partners International Inc | Information technology services | Open | A | $186 257 |
| Technology Partners International Inc | Independent value for money assessment | Open | A | $261 830 |
| Technology Partners International Inc | Analysis and advisory services | Direct | B | $33 865 |
| The Boston Consulting Group Pty Ltd | Independent review of Visa Transformation Services program | Direct | A | $350 000 |
| The Boston Consulting Group Pty Ltd | Periodic assurance reviews of the progress of the SfP program | Direct | A | $941 592 |
| The Nous Group | 360 degrees feedback | Open | B | $24 112 |
| The University of Queensland Social Research Centre | Survey into the student visa class |
Select | A | $84 404 |
| The University of Queensland Social Research Centre | Factors which may or may not influence skilled migrants to locate to developing regional areas | Select | A | $90 935 |
| Trade Aid Pty Ltd trading as Qp3 Consulting | Probity advice services for security guarding and security vetting | Open | B | $50 000 |
| University of Canberra | Dynamic modelling consultancy and training services for the visa services transformation project | Select | A | $229 900 |
| University of New South Wales |
Research project on the needs of marginalised Muslim and migrant families | Select | A, B, C | $87 593 |
| University of Newcastle | Research project on the job readiness of Muslim jobseekers and the relative effectiveness of employment support services in Australia | Select | A, B, C | $88 000 |
| University of South Australia | Research project on information and communication technologies (ICT) use by Muslim, migrant and second generation Australian youth | Select | A, B, C | $88 000 |
| University of Technology, Sydney | Research project on the voices shaping the perspectives of young Muslim Australians | Select | A, B, C | $82 500 |
| VIC Foundation for Survivors of Torture and Trauma | Budget for vulnerability indicator study | Select | B | $80 000 |
| Walter Turnbull Pty Ltd | Procurement of assurance services for the set up of the Office of Migration Agents Registration Authority | Open | B | $105 300 |
| Walter Turnbull Pty Ltd | Auditing services | Direct | A | $22 726 |
| Walter Turnbull Pty Ltd | Review of financial management within International Cooperation Branch |
Open | B | $34 589 |
| Walter Turnbull Pty Ltd | Independent review services | Under parent contract | B | $113 318 |
| Walter Turnbull Pty Ltd | Citizenship fraud risk assessment | Open | A | $41 548 |
| Wizard People | Independent merits review of refugee status assessments | Direct | A, B | $50 465 |
| Workplace Research Associates Pty Ltd |
Learning and development— research services for sensitive operational roles | Open | A | $54 560 |
| Workplace Research Associates Pty Ltd |
Learning and development research services: Evaluation of learning and development | Open | A | $86 000 |
| Total | $12 399 914 |
ANAO access provisions
The department’s standard contract templates include provisions allowing the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) to access a contractor’s premises. There are, however, a limited number of contracts that do not contain the ANAO access provisions.
These include, for example, cases where specific industry-based standard contracts have been used rather than the department’s standard contract template or where there is an international contract.
Table 101: Contracts in excess of $100 000 that do not contain the Australian National Audit Office access provisions| Name of contractor | Description | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Survey Research Group Pty Ltd | Analysis of litigation pathways of clients in immigration and community detention | $118 978 |
| Australian Survey Research Group Pty Ltd | Settlement outcomes of new arrivals in Australia | $199 717 |
| D’Arcy Consulting Group | Staff training services | $139 260 |
| National Australia Day Council | Sponsorship: Australian of the Year Awards | $188 760 |
| National Australia Day Council | Sponsorship: Australia Day | $286 000 |
| Spinifex IT Pty Ltd | Software purchase, support and maintenance | $103 720 |
