[December 13, 2011] AUSTRALIA : Australian Government to reduce number of IT Services panels [TendersInfo (India)] Tweet (TendersInfo (India) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Special Minister of State Gary Gray today announced a policy that will halve the number of IT services panels currently operating across the Australian Government. The policy aims to implement the reduction over three years as the more than 120 current panels expire. The IT services panel arrangements allow for the procurement of a broad range of IT services regularly acquired by agencies, Special Minister of State Gary Gray said today. This policy will reduce the administrative overheads incurred by agencies in establishing their own panels and also for the IT industry in tendering for inclusion in the current large number of panels. A maximum of three IT services panels per portfolio is expected to maintain a competitive market, providing the IT industry with sufficient tender opportunities, while retaining the required autonomy for portfolios. The inclusion of a mandatory multi-agency access clause (piggybacking) in newly established IT services panels will simplify procurement for agencies and improve access to Australian Government agencies for suppliers. Over time, suppliers will be able to access all Australian Government agencies by successfully tendering for only one of the new IT services panels. AGIMO will continue to provide support and advice to all Australian Government agencies on all ICT procurement matters. Existing IT Services panels will continue until their expiration dates to ensure that Government continues to receive value for money from these arrangements. (c) 2011 Euclid Infotech Pvt. Ltd. Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]