Vic govt invites tenders to replace CenITex services
The Victorian government today invited Expressions of Interest (EoI) from companies wanting to provide IT services to the various state government agencies and departments.
Citing innovation, efficiency, transparency, and value for money as its key objectives, the services to be provided by the winning tender or tenders will encompass desktops and end users; local network management; storage platforms; processing platforms; and service desk, according to the government's tender documents.
"We are looking to the private sector to deliver more efficient and effective ICT services for government," Victoria's Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Technology Gordon Rich-Phillips said.
The services being requested are in line with the state's recently released ICT Strategy, the final version of which was published in February, after listening to and applying feedback from the public on its draft strategy (PDF).
In May, the Victorian government set aside AU$19 million in its budget for implementing the ICT Strategy.
The Victorian agencies and departments to be serviced by the winning IT provider include the Department of Treasury and Finance, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Health, the Department of Premier and Cabinet, the Department of Justice, and Ombudsman Victoria.
"We are calling on highly experienced providers of ICT services with proven track records in the delivery of reliable, effective and innovative ICT solutions to respond," said Rich-Phillips, adding that the opportunity would also boost the overall market for IT service provision in the state.
EoI registration closes on October 10, 2013, with the short-listed applicants to be announced later that month and the contract to commence in May next year.
The government-owned Centre for IT Excellence (CenITex) previously provided the government's IT services, but will be moving into a broker role.
"The ICT Strategy marks a significant shift for the delivery of ICT services to government departments," Michael Vanderheide, CEO of CenITex, said.
"Opportunities have emerged, including cloud-based services, which offer potentially more cost-effective and responsive ways of delivering what CenITex currently provides."
In October last year, the Victorian Ombudsman found after an investigation into CenITex that the organisation was riddled with favouritism, nepotism, corruption, and bad leadership from top-level management, among other issues (PDF).