APS wants net zero data platform to streamline emissions reporting

The Department of Finance is soliciting proposals for the development of a net zero data platform.

It wants to enhance the efficiency of greenhouse gas emissions data collection and reporting across all Commonwealth entities.

The aim is to establish this platform as the single source of truth for emissions data across the Commonwealth APS.

Deadline for submissions is 2pm Canberra time on Wednesday, 20 December 2023. The cut-off for inquiries is 14 December 2023.

The proposed platform will serve as a central database repository for storing and managing raw energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions data from Commonwealth entities.

Key features will include:

• Bulk uploading capabilities and integration with external systems for data refresh.
• Automated calculation of greenhouse gas emissions from various activity data inputs.
• Reporting and modeling functionalities for emissions data.
• A user-friendly web interface for entity users to manage their emissions data.
• Daily data updates ensuring timeliness and accuracy.

By streamlining data collection and reporting processes, the APS aims to reduce manual efforts and staffing requirements.

It wants the platform to automatically data transfer between systems, transparently calculate greenhouse gas emissions, and have admin-only access for formula updates.

The platform will feature a test database/sandbox for data approval before going live.

The tender requires robust backup and records management systems with access strictly regulated through identity and access management systems, allowing entities to access only their data while keeping others' data confidential.

The system is designed to be compatible with existing data sources, including Commonwealth property holdings, whole of government procurement arrangements, and travel data from government travel arrangements.

It will also integrate with existing reporting applications like PowerBI and Tableau and support various data export formats. The inclusion of artificial intelligence for future business intelligence analysis is a preferred but not mandatory feature.

A key requirement for the platform is scalability and flexibility to accommodate future growth and changing business needs. The system must handle the expansion of the emissions reporting framework, establish relationships with other datasets, and adapt to technological advancements.

It should also maintain data ownership and track emissions data through government entity changes.