Sydney's Inner West Council to establish multi-supplier technology panel

Sydney's Inner West Council has issued a request for tender (RFT) seeking organisations for inclusion on a multi-supplier panel covering data services, AI services, automation and integration services, and digital solutions and development.

The panel will provide the Council with on-demand access to professional services, advisory, and delivery capability across the lifecycle of these capabilities - from strategy and architecture through to build, deployment, optimisation, and ongoing capability uplift.

The Council intends to appoint multiple vendors across all four streams to ensure diversity of capability, capacity, and competitive tension across the panel term

As backdrop for going to market, the Council said that its currently delivering a significant digital transformation program designed to enhance services, streamline operations, and embed data-driven decision making.

The Council currently operates a predominantly Microsoft-centric environment, comprising of Azure, Microsoft 365 E5, Fabric, Dynamics 365 and Power Platform.

Its enterprise environment comprises TechnologyOne OneCouncil, ESRI ArcGIS Enterprise and ArcGIS Online, as well as Fresh service for IT management and additional line-of-business applications supporting regulatory and operational services.

Among the objectives it seeks to achieve with the panels are the rapid design and implementation of data, AI, automation, and digital solutions that improve service delivery, internal operations, and community outcomes, as well as the strengthening of internal capability and maturity in data management, AI governance, integration, and digital solution delivery.

Its focuses for the digital transformation project include AI-enabled productivity, staff experience and customer service improvements using Azure AI services and Azure AI Foundry; an expansion of data and analytics capabilities, including the development of Microsoft Fabric-based data platforms; and the establishment and ongoing enhancement of an integration platform leveraging Azure Integration Services, supporting API-led and event-driven integration across core systems including TechnologyOne and ESRI.

Other focus areas include the development of modern digital applications and web-based solutions, such as bespoke web apps to support staff productivity and workflows, along with external-facing web apps, portals and services to improve community engagement and access to council services.

The Council has established foundational data and analytics capabilities and is progressing a structured maturity uplift across data governance, modern data platforms, operational AI, end-to-end automation, integration, and the design and build of digital solutions. The panel will be a key mechanism to accelerate these outcomes

Submissions close on 30 July at 4:00pm.