Outcome:	1 Environment				Question No: 29
Output:  	All
Division/Agency:	Corporate Strategies Division
Topic: 	Procurement Policy
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written question on notice

Senator Murray asked:
When did the Department last update its procurement policy documentation?

Answer/s:
December 2004.

Outcome:	1. Environment		Question No: 30
Output:  	All
Division/Agency:	Corporate Strategies Division
Topic: 	Procurement Policy
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written question on notice

Senator Murray asked:
What mechanisms does the Department have in place to ensure its procurement guidelines reflect current policy in relation to government contracting?

Answer/s:
The Department's mechanism's include:  Membership of the DoFA's Procurement Discussion Forum;  Procurement staff attendance at DoFA procurement seminars and information sessions;   Revision of Procurement Guidelines and procedural documents to reflect any changes in government procurement or related policies;  Formation of a Departmental Working Group involving legal, systems, procurement and change management stakeholders, to review and revise Departmental procurement policies and documentation to reflect the changes in the new Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines (CPGs)

Outcome:	1. Environment		Question No: 31
Output:  	All
Division/Agency:	Corporate Strategies Division
Topic: 	Procurement Policy
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written question on notice

Senator Murray asked:
Do the Department's current procurement guidelines refer to all of the following accountability mechanisms:

· The Senate order for departmental and agency contracts;
· The Department of Finance and Administration's February 2003 Guidance on Confidentiality of  Contractors' Commercial Information; and
· The Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines (CPGs) ?

Answer/s:
Yes.

Outcome:	1.  Environment		Question No: 32
Output:  	All
Division/Agency:	Corporate Strategies Division
Topic: 	Procurement Policy
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written question on notice

Senator Murray asked:
Do the Department's tender documentation and contract templates include the following elements:

· a statement outlining the various Commonwealth accountability requirements;
· a consistent definition of confidential information across all templates;
· a provision for the inclusion of specific reasons justifying why a tenderer may wish to protect certain information in the contract if it awarded;
· a section that outlines the obligations of confidentiality after the contract has been awarded;
· a more detailed outline, with the general non-disclosure clauses, of the exceptions to confidentiality obligations for Commonwealth contracts; and
· the model contract clauses, given in DOFA's February 2003 Guidance on Confidentiality of Contractor's  Commercial Information ?

Answer/s:
Yes.  With the exception that the documentation does not include provision for the inclusion of specific reasons justifying why a tenderer may wish to protect certain information in the contract if awarded.

Outcome:	1.  Environment		Question No: 33
Output:  	All
Division/Agency:	Corporate Strategies Division
Topic: 	Procurement Policy
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written question on notice

Senator Murray asked:

At page 51 of ANAO Audit Report No.10 2004-2005, The Senate Order for Departmental and Agency Contracts (Calendar Year 2003 Compliance), the ANAO has concluded that all FMA agencies would benefit from implementation of contract training courses, or a review of current courses, to ensure that the Senate order requirements are adequately covered and that procurement staff receive relevant DOFA guidance. 

What training does the Department currently have in place for procurement staff?

Answer/s:
The Department currently has the following training arrangements in place for procurement staff:  
•	Two eLearning modules: 
- 	Procurement Concepts; and 
-	Changes to the Government Procurement Framework;
•	 Weekly Change Management Newsletters to an intra departmental network of financial and procurement contacts, which includes the dissemination of the DoFA Procurement Updates;
•	SAP 4.6 Purchase Order training via Employee Self Service and SAP Help Desk;
•	Department Procurement staff provision of procurement information sessions;
•	Ad hoc specialist training on procurement arrangements such as tendering and evaluation; and
•	Departmental staff attendance at the Australian Public Service Commission’s contract management courses.

Outcome:	All				Question No: 34
Output:  	All
Division/Agency:	Corporate Strategies Division
Topic: 	Procurement Policy
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written question on notice

Senator Murray asked:
Does this training cover the requirements of the Senate order for departmental and agency contracts and refer to DOFA's February 2003 Guidance on Confidentiality of Contractor's Commercial Information?

Answer/s:
The eLearning modules cover the Senate Order requirements and refer to DoFA's 2003 guidance on Confidentiality of Contractor's Commercial Information.  The department's guidance material on the preparation of input to the Senate Order processes also refer.