Independent pricing regulator seeks ServiceNow partner for critical systems

The New South Wales Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has issued an official tender for a ServiceNow ICT partner.

It is seeking support and the management of crucial systems that underpin the regulator's operations and compliance functions.

IPART is seeking a partner to maintain and develop three key platforms: TESSA, WILMA, and the Council Portal.

These systems play vital roles in managing energy sustainability schemes, private water utility compliance, and local council submissions respectively.

TESSA, the online system for Energy Sustainability Schemes (ESS), is described as "business critical" by IPART.

It manages licensing, compliance, and audit functions for the Energy Security Safeguard.

The system also maintains the legally mandated public register of certificates and facilitates certificate transfers between parties.

According to IPART, the proper management of TESSA through ServiceNow is "essential to maintain the integrity, efficiency, and reliability of the Safeguard schemes".

The regulator warns that any disruption could potentially lead to compliance failures and reputational damage for the NSW Government.

WILMA, another critical system, is used for managing licensing, compliance, and audit data for private water utilities licensed under the Water Industry Competition Act 2006.

IPART emphasised that WILMA is crucial for risk management, ensuring the capture and retrieval of information related to licensee compliance.

The third system, the Council Portal, facilitates secure and auditable application submissions between local councils and IPART.

It is used for assessing Contribution Plans and Special Variation applications, automating file generation for website publication and internal storage.

IPART stresses the importance of these systems in maintaining regulatory compliance, protecting public interests, and ensuring efficient operations.

The regulator noted that without these systems, there are significant risks of failing to identify compliance issues, assessment errors, and increased processing times.

The tender for a ServiceNow ICT partner is in line with IPART's commitment to maintaining robust, efficient, and compliant regulatory systems. 

Potential partners will need to demonstrate their ability to manage and develop these critical systems, ensuring their continued reliability and effectiveness in supporting IPART's regulatory functions.

The close-off date for the tender is October 18 this year, with a decision expected on October 25, with the value of the potential contract not disclosed.