Australian Government - Department of Education, Science and Training

 Annual Report 2004 - 2005

 


Home > Contents > Appendices > Appendix 4 - Consultancies

Appendix 4 - Consultancies

 

This Appendix provides information on consultancies used by the department in 2004-05. Summary details are shown according to the department’s organisational structure (see Figure 2.2).

The department’s policy on selecting consultants

The department engages individuals and companies to provide professional services under contracts for service, taking account of the skills and resources required for the task, the skills available internally and the cost effectiveness of these options.

Consultancy services are one particular type of service delivered under a contract for services. They are distinguished from other contracts for services by the nature of the work performed. A consultant is an entity, whether an individual, a partnership, or a corporation, engaged to provide professional independent and expert advice or services. Consultants are typically engaged to investigate or diagnose a defined issue or problem; carry out defined research  reviews or evaluations; or provide independent advice, information or creative solutions to assist the agency in management decision making.

By contrast, other (non-consultancy) contracts for services will typically be far more restrictive in the degree of latitude afforded to the contractor. These types of contracts may be characterised by a clear and tight specification of the form of product or service to be produced; or by a set of requirements that will be specified as to the manner in which work is to be performed.

The decision to engage a consultant is made by programme managers in accordance with the department’s Financial Management Manual (Section 6: Procurement) and the Procurement Manual.

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Summary of active consultancies

Table A4.1 summarises, by organisational structure, the number of active consultancies providing services for the department in 2004-05 and the total expenditure on them in the   2004-05 financial year, regardless of the year in which they were let.

Table A4.1:  Consultancies summary of usage by department 2004-05

Responsible Work Unit

Number

Cost ($’000)
Audit and Investigations Branch

5

148
Corporate Strategy Group

24

992
State Offices

1

0
Higher Education Group

9

586
Indigenous and Transitions Group

17

1 086
Industry Skills Development Group

7

120
Information Services Group

14

373
Innovation and Research Systems Group

11

402
International Education Group

51

1 381
National Training Directions Group

3

43
Procurement, Assurance and Legal Group

8

1 531
Questacon

11

76
Schools Group

14

398
Schools Outcomes Group

33

5 387
Schools Resourcing Group

2

66
Science Group

13

944
Strategic Analysis and Evaluation Group

33

2 029
TOTAL

256

15 562

Note:  Includes all consultancies, even those with a value of less than $10 000.
Source:  Departmental records. This information is subject to revision.

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Details of consultancies

Table A4.2 provides details of consultancy contracts the department let in 2004-05 and the value of the contract over the life of the contract. Contracts with a value of less than $10 000 have not been included in line with annual reporting requirements.

Table A4.2 provides details of consultancy contracts the department let in 2004-05 and the value of the contract over the life of the contract. Contracts with a value of less than $10 000 have not been included in line with annual reporting requirements.

Key to list of consultancies in 2004-05

Selection process (1) Justification (2)
Open Tender A procurement procedure in which a request for tender is published inviting all businesses that satisfy the conditions for participation to submit tenders A Skills currently unavailable within agency
Select Tender A procurement procedure in which the procuring agency selects which potential suppliers are invited to submit tenders in accordance with the mandatory procurement procedures B Need for specialised or professional skills
Direct Sourcing A procurement process  available only under certain defined circumstances  in which an agency may contact a single potential supplier or suppliers of its choice and for which conditions for direct sourcing apply under the mandatory procurement procedures C Need for independent research or assessment
Panel An arrangement under which a number of suppliers,  usually selected through a single procurement process, may each supply property or services to an agency as specified in the panel arrangements    

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Table A4.2: Consultancy contracts let in 2004-05

Group PRN ref. Contract No. Consultant Name Description

Contract Price (GST inclusive)

Selection Process (1)

Justification (2)
Audit & Investigations Branch PRN5056 75090 Acumen Alliance Consulting IT Audit Panel

$24 000

Select Tender

B

  
Audit & Investigations Branch PRN5056 75088 Ernst & Young IT Audit Panel

$50 071

Select Tender

B

  
Audit & Investigations Branch PRN5056 75089 Max Shanahan and Associates Pty Ltd IT Audit Panel

$12 356

Select Tender

B

  
Audit & Investigations Branch PRN6032 75270 Yass Analytical and Investigative Specialist investigation and analysis services in relation to specific National Investigations Unit investigations

$49 800

Select Tender

B

  
Audit & Investigations Branch       Sub-total

$136 227

      
Corporate Strategy Group PRN7275 75768 Palm Consulting Group Pty Ltd Development of DEST 2005 Strategic Plan

$89 598

Panel

B

  
Corporate Strategy Group PRN6535 75422 The Value Creation Group Pty Ltd Value-creating for effective policy services

$60 000

Select Tender

B

  
Corporate Strategy Group PRN6563 75609 Hickey, Paul Review of the functions of the State Office Network

$67 660

Select Tender

B

  
Corporate Strategy Group PRN7368 75647 Acumen Alliance Holdings Pty Ltd Accounting Assistance for Australian National Training Authority

$80 000

Select Tender

B

  
Corporate Strategy Group PRN6331 75408 KPMG Review the Application of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on Transactions made by DEST

$21 670

Select Tender

C

  
Corporate Strategy Group PRN6819 75539 Batey Kazoo Communications Pty Ltd Higher Education Reforms Campaign - creative element

$70 456*

Select Tender**

B

  
Corporate Strategy Group PRN6679 75483 Eureka Strategic Research Pty Ltd DEST Stakeholder Perceptions

$49 918*

Select Tender

B

  
Corporate Strategy Group PRN6156 75333 Ascent Consulting Pty Ltd Technical advice in relation to call centre services

$43 651

Select Tender

B

  
Corporate Strategy Group PRN5523 75275 Full Circle Feedback Pty Ltd 360 Degree Feedback for DEST Managers

$251 160

Open Tender

B

  
Corporate Strategy Group PRN5513 75207 Right Management Consultants Pty Ltd DEST Staff Survey

$157 300

Open Tender

B

  
Corporate Strategy Group PRN6318 75381 Adept Associates Pty Ltd Independent Review of Actions

$21 125

Select Tender

C

  
Corporate Strategy Group       Sub-total

$912 538

      
Higher Education Group PRN5537 75256 Pricewaterhouse Coopers Guidelines for the Preparation of Annual Financial Statements for 2004 and 2005

$67 100

Select Tender

B

  
Higher Education Group PRN7510 75758 Global Learning Services Pty Ltd Developing a quality audit process for Higher Education Providers

$75 000

Select Tender

B

  
Higher Education Group n/a n/a Illawarra Technology Corporation Consultation with Vice-Chancellors on Commonwealth-State responsibilities for higher education

 $50 045

Select Tender

C

  
Higher Education Group n/a n/a Phillips KPA Pty Ltd Review of Commonwealth-State responsibilities for higher education in Australia

   $49 981

Select Tender

C

  
Higher Education Group Sub-total

$242 126

      
Indigenous & Transitions Group PRN5146 75409 The Performance Technologies Group Evaluation of myfuture.edu.au career information service

 $112 938

Select Tender

C

  
Indigenous & Transitions Group PRN5601 75393 Victoria University of Technology Development of a career education elective for students undertaking secondary teaching courses

 $112 722

Select Tender

B

  
Indigenous & Transitions Group PRN5469 75348 Phillips KPA Pty Ltd Strategies for the Local Community Partnerships Network

$146 560

Open Tender

B

  
Indigenous & Transitions Group PRN5261 75250 Templeton Galt Pty Ltd Support for ARMtour Sports Support Program

  $33 000

Select Tender

B

  
Indigenous & Transitions Group PRN6763 75568 Urbis Keys Young Focus groups on community governance for the Murdi Paaki COAG Trial

  $22 000

Select Tender

B

  
Indigenous & Transitions Group PRN6286 75508 Atelier Learning Solutions Pty Ltd Local community partnership development and support

$207 157

Open Tender

B

  
Indigenous &   
Transitions Group		       Sub-total

 $634 377

      
Industry Skills Development Group PRN6914 75497 Ithaca Group Pty Ltd Essential skills development for Adult Literacy

  $10 000

Select Tender

B

  
Industry Skills Development Group PRN7374 75736 Quantitative Evaluation and Design Pty Ltd Language  Literacy and Numeracy Programme (LLNP) statistical analysis to develop projected business flows

  $40 000

Select Tender

B

  
Industry Skills Development Group PRN7951 75811 Industry Training Australia Pty Ltd Expansion of the New Apprenticeship Information Service to the Job Network

   $47 993

Select Tender

B

  
Industry Skills Development Group PRN6306 75334 Michael Vance Holland Job Guide 2005 - National Skills Shortages Strategy

   $30 778

Select Tender

B

  
Industry Skills Development Group PRN6777 75696 Cox Inall Communications Pty Ltd 2005 Minister's Awards for Excellence for Employers of New Apprentices

$173 316

Panel

B

  
Industry Skills
 Development Group		       Sub-total

 $302 087

      
Information Services Group PRN6178 75308 Tactics Consulting Pty Ltd Technical and content writing for the Going to Uni website

   $55 330

Select Tender

B

  
Information Services Group PRN5105 75261 Meta Group Australia Holdings Pty Ltd Information Technology research and advisory services

$168 300

Open Tender

C

  
Information Services Group PRN7140 75663 Cybertrust 2005 IT Threat Risk Assessment

  $86 900

Select Tender

C

  
Information Services Group PRN7774 75730 APIS Consulting Group Project Management Maturity Assessment and Report

  $10 000

Select Tender

C

  
Information Services Group PRN7060 75553 Dimension Data Australia Pty Ltd Develop technical options and issues in separating DEST data communications infrastructure from Department of Employment and Workplace Relations

  $52 250

Select Tender

B

  
Information Services Group PRN5105 75307 Gartner Australasia Pty Ltd Information Technology research and advisory services

$354 948

Open Tender

C

  
Information Services Group PRN7950 75770 Taylforth Consultants Pty Ltd Review and advise on information services organisational structure and functions

  $17 000

Select Tender

C

  
Information Services Group       Sub-total

$744 728

      
Innovation & Research Systems Group PRN7446 75642 M. A. Sargent and Associates Chair e-Research
Co-ordinating Committee

  $50 000

Select Tender

B

  
Innovation & Research Systems Group PRN6789 75524 The Allen Consulting Group Discipline and cross-discipline workshops relating to the Research Quality Framework

  $27 500

Select Tender

B

  
Innovation & Research Systems Group PRN7173 75610 The Allen Consulting Group Research Quality Framework (RQF): facilitation and analysis services

  $79 900

Select Tender

B

  
Innovation & Research Systems Group       Sub-total

$157 400

      
International Education Group PRN6562 75467 International Training Australia Phase 1 of a project to promote the Australian VET Framework in China

$142 934*

Open Tender

B

  
International Education Group PRN6904 75640 Phillips KPA Pty Ltd Improving practice and national consistency in quality assurance mechanisms for offshore delivery

 $119 722

Open Tender

C

  
International Education Group PRN7031 75654 ASEAN Focus Group Pty Ltd Analysis of education and training infrastructure available in Aceh post tsunami

 $15 400

Select Tender

B

  
International Education Group PRN6589 75410 Melbourne University Private Regulatory Framework for Private Higher Education Institutions in the United Arab Emirates and Iran

 $50 000

Select Tender

B

  
International Education Group PRN6565 75413 Acumen Alliance Consulting Expert advice to assist in developing business requirements documents

 $19 000

Select Tender

B

  
International Education Group PRN7167 75732 AMBIT Recruitment Group Creation of knowledge management framework for AEI-National Office of Skills Recognition

$77 000

Select Tender

B

  
International Education Group PRN7404 75657 Phillips KPA Pty Ltd AEI-National Office of Skills Recognition - Review of Qualification Assessment Guidelines

$69 135

Select Tender

B

  
International Education Group PRN7201 75569 Rosetta Consulting Pty Ltd Advisory Panel Review

$45 684

Select Tender

C

  
International Education Group PRN7411 75670 Systemik Solutions Pty Ltd Data Migration Services

$86 777

Select Tender

B

  
International Education Group PRN7782 75778 Systemik Solutions Pty Ltd CEP Online Project - Conversion Project

$40 183

Select Tender

B

  
International Education Group PRN7445 75641 Francesca Mary Beddie and Associates Update and edit the publication Best Practice Guide for Assessment Authorities

$20 000

Select Tender

B

  
International Education Group PRN6629 75509 Global Learning Services Pty Ltd Strategies in promoting the widespread use of the Diploma Supplement in Australia

$60 000

Open Tender

B

  
International Education Group PRN5637 75263 Quantitative Evaluation and Design Pty Ltd Provision of expert advice for tendering for international surveys

$13 200

Select Tender

B

  
International Education Group PRN7565 75714 Quantum Consulting Australia Use of education agents by CRICOS registered providers

 $44 975

Select Tender

B

  
International Education Group PRN6541 75469 Australian Forensic Services Pty Ltd Certificate IV in Government Statutory Investigation and Enforcement

 $15 750

Select Tender

B

  
International Education Group PRN6749 75582 Courage Partners Pty Ltd Industry Regulation and Compliance Unit Compliance Package

  $65 780

Select Tender

B

  
International Education Group PRN8023 75804 Australian Institute of Management Professional presentations coaching

  $10 164

Select Tender

B

  
International Education Group PRN7129 75573 Corporate Diagnostics Pty Ltd User research of information services delivered via AEI-Online

  $60 500

Select Tender

B

  
International Education Group PRN7131 75671 Bearcage Media Services Pty Ltd Study in Australia multimedia presentations

$133 913

Open Tender

B

  
International Education Group PRN6688 75540 Blue Moon Social Research Market research in Latin America

$238 140*

Select Tender

B

  
International Education Group PRN6881 75517 Grey Worldwide Canberra Study in Australia brand photo-shoot

  $80 000

Select Tender

B

  
International Education Group PRN7399 75733 Illuminate Consulting Group Market research in the education sector of Western Europe

$124 500

Select Tender

B

  
International Education Group PRN6098 75338 National Centre for Vocational Education Research Ltd Feasibility of quantifying the offshore delivery of VET by Australian private providers

  $31 625

Select Tender

B

  
International
Education Group		       Sub-total

$1 564 382

      
Procurement  Assurance and Legal Group PRN7536 75826 Marette Consulting DEST Emergency and Continuity Management Plan

$13 200

Select Tender

B

  
Procurement  Assurance and Legal Group PRN7999 75807 Department of Transport and Regional Services Development of a Standard Funding Agreement

$11 000

Select Tender

B

  
Procurement 
Assurance and Legal Group		       Sub-total

$24 200

      
Questacon n/a  2004/0026 Advance FM Pty Ltd 30 Year asset renewal plan

$21 252

Select Tender

C

  
Questacon n/a  2005/0043 Edmore Pty Ltd Develop and implement a staff induction on-line training program including management information sessions

$20 658

Select Tender

B

  
Questacon n/a  2004/0033 Freebody Cogent Pty Ltd Provision of a costing and forecast model for Questacon

$14 000

Select Tender

B

  
Questacon n/a  2005/0049 Hasen Global Consulting Group Pty Ltd Provision of a rostering and time in attendance system

$26 146

Select Tender

B

  
Questacon n/a  2004/0032 Helean, Patrick Development of programs and presentations for the excited particles school visit programme at Questacon

$19 900

Select Tender

B

  
Questacon n/a  2005/0037 Shipley Consultants The provision of assistance with establishing enabling partnerships and sponsorships

$22 000

Select Tender

B

  
Questacon       Sub-total

$123 956

      
Schools Outcomes Group PRN5508 75579 Australian Curriculum Studies Partnerships in ICT Learning

$397 770

Open Tender

B

  
Schools Outcomes Group PRN7098 75731 Horizon Communication Group National Literacy and Numeracy week 2005 Public Relations Project

$407 000

Panel

B

  
Schools Outcomes Group PRN7450 75651 RADII Pty Ltd Student report cards - standards and assessment

$31 900

Select Tender

B

  
Schools Outcomes Group PRN5189 75475 Central Queensland University Male Teacher Support (MATES) project

$133 584

Select Tender

B

  
Schools Outcomes Group PRN6169 75542 Atelier Learning Solutions Pty Ltd Common school starting age and associated nomenclature - cost/benefit analysis

$327 712

Select Tender

C

  
Schools Outcomes Group PRN7168 75787 Australian Council for Educational Research Australian Certificate of Education Report

$325 850

Open Tender

B

  
Schools Outcomes Group PRN6905 75604 Erebus International Evaluation of the National Quality Schooling Framework

$77 000

Select Tender

B

  
Schools Outcomes Group PRN7615 75711 Impetus Consultants Pty Ltd Benchmarking Australian Primary School Curricula

     $79 900

Select Tender

B

  
Schools Outcomes Group PRN6555 75554 James Cook University Success for Boys programme - services to develop trial professional learning modules for teachers

   $587 520

Open Tender

B

  
Schools Outcomes Group PRN5108 75287 Murdoch University National Review of School Music Education

   $345 767

Open Tender

B

  
Schools Outcomes Group PRN5259 75395 The University of New South Wales Development of professional development activities about gifted and talented education

   $296 538

Open Tender

B

  
Schools Outcomes Group PRN5129 75713 The University of New South Wales Delivery of regional conferences for parents about gifted and talented children

    $576 291

Open Tender

B

  
Schools Outcomes Group PRN5163 75290 Atelier Learning Solutions Pty Ltd Evaluation of the Australian Government Quality Teacher Programme

   $446 235

Select Tender

B

  
Schools Outcomes Group PRN7319 75855 I & J Management Services Pty Ltd Development of a performance reporting framework for the Australian Government Quality Teacher Programme (AGQTP)

   $213 730

Open Tender

B

  
Schools Outcomes Group PRN6567 75482 Drug and Alcohol Office  WA Further Development of the Keeping in Touch resource

    $44 000

Select Tender

B

  
Schools Outcomes Group PRN6827 75680 Erebus Consulting Pty Ltd Preliminary Research project for Drug education in the Early Years of Schooling

    $99 550

Open Tender

B

  
Schools Outcomes Group PRN7684 75775 Erebus International National School Drug Education Strategy - development of evaluative survey instruments

    $88 000

Select Tender

B

  
Schools Outcomes Group PRN6811 75773 Erebus International Evaluation of the pilot Tutorial Voucher Initiative

  $336 270

Select Tender

C

  
Schools Outcomes Group PRN6981 75528 The University of New South Wales Barriers to providing school based prevention programmes for ecstasy and related drugs

    $55 000

Select Tender

B

  
Schools Outcomes Group PRN6783 75678 University of Canberra Career Pathways in Early Childhood Education Qualifications

    $85 782

Select Tender

B

  
Schools Outcomes Group PRN6996 75527 University of Melbourne Development of School Drug Education Forum Materials

    $49 962

Select Tender

B

  
Schools Outcomes Group       Sub-total

$5 005 361

      
Schools Resourcing Group PRN7582 75720 RSM Bird Cameron Chartered Accountants Establishment of Australian Technical Colleges

 $120 111

Select Tender

C

  
Schools Resourcing Group       Sub-total

 $120 111

      
Science Group PRN5459 75293 The Allen Consulting Group Research and Innovation Investment in the Asia-Pacific Region

 $77 660

Select Tender

B

  
Science Group PRN5680 75255 SouthTech Personnel Provision of scientific and technical advice to DEST on the Commonwealth radioactive waste facility

  $66 000

Select Tender

B

  
Science Group PRN6054 75309 NRS Group Pty Ltd Provision of media production specialist services

  $41 302

Select Tender

B

  
Science Group PRN6356 75343 Science in Public Media consultation for the 2004 Prime Minister's Prizes for Science Awards

  $11 880

Select Tender

B

  
Science Group PRN8081 75839 Science in Public Media Consultation for the 2005 Prime Minister's Prizes for Science Awards

 $22 000

Select Tender

B

  
Science Group       Sub-total

$218 842

      
Strategic  Analysis & Evaluation Group PRN6342 75493 Access Economics Pty Ltd Review of higher education performance indicators

  $81 522

Select Tender

C

  
Strategic  Analysis & Evaluation Group PRN6038 75628 Department of Employment and Workplace Relations Post-programme monitoring of employment and education outcomes arising from assistance programmes

 $66 000

Select Tender

B

  
Strategic  Analysis & Evaluation Group PRN6966 75683 Monash University Study of first year attrition from university 2005

$193 868

Select Tender

B

  
Strategic  Analysis & Evaluation Group PRN6519 75388 Quantitative Evaluation and Design Pty Ltd Data analyst for Language  Literacy and Numeracy Programme evaluation

 $49 000

Select Tender

C

  
Strategic  Analysis & Evaluation Group PRN6918 75596 Woolcott Research Pty Ltd Interviews and focus groups for a review of the Career Planning Programme

 $80 000

Select Tender

B

  
Strategic  Analysis & Evaluation Group PRN6851 75716 Woolcott Research Pty Ltd Computer assisted telephone interviews for a Review of the Career Planning Programme

 $58 806

Select Tender

B

  
Strategic  Analysis & Evaluation Group PRN7819 75810 Consolve Pty Ltd Data management improvement project

 $32 780

Select Tender

B

  
Strategic  Analysis & Evaluation Group PRN7045 75538 Lynn Farkas Information Services Pty Ltd DEST Research Publications - creation of publication profiles and file descriptions for redesigned DEST Corporate Internet Site

      $60 000

Select Tender

B

  
Strategic  Analysis & Evaluation Group PRN7785 75764 Lynn Farkas Information Services Pty Ltd DEST Research Publications - Archive Project

      $22 000

Select Tender

B

  
Strategic  Analysis & Evaluation Group PRN6867 75611 The Allen Consulting Group International Factors Influencing Australian Scientists to Work Abroad

      $57 300

Select Tender

B

  
Strategic  Analysis & Evaluation Group PRN5929 75449 University of Western Sydney Motivation and engagement of boys: evidence-based teaching practices for boys

    $338 235

Select Tender

B

  
Strategic  Analysis & Evaluation Group PRN5555 75262 Acumen Alliance Consulting 2004 Survey of Independent Schools

      $35 750

Select Tender

B

  
Strategic  Analysis & Evaluation Group PRN3261 n/a Australian Council for Educational Research Provision of a national project manager in Australia for the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (Third Cycle - PISA 2006)

$1 661 385

Select Tender

B

  
Strategic  Analysis & Evaluation Group PRN7092 75652 Quantitative Evaluation and Design Pty Ltd Investigation of selection and attrition bias in longitudinal surveys of Australian youth

     $13 200

Select Tender

B

  
Strategic  Analysis & Evaluation Group PRN7306 75827 Quantitative Evaluation and Design Pty Ltd Longitudinal surveys of Australian youth data documentation - strategic advice

     $15 840

Select Tender

B

  
Strategic  Analysis & Evaluation Group PRN7575 75816 University of Canberra Longitudinal surveys of Australian youth - research analysis grants 2005/2006

     $54 678

Select Tender

B

  
Strategic  Analysis & Evaluation Group       Sub-total

$2 820 364

      
                   

Code : Justification of consultancy:

  1. skills currently unavailable
  2. need for specialised or professional skills
  3. need for independent research

* This contract also appears in the Advertising and Market Research Appendix 3

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