Victoria backflips on e-services panel

The Victorian Government has moved to quell the outrage directed at it last month when it dumped 65 ICT suppliers in a revamp of its eServices panel.

Many of the suppliers, which included integrators and vendors, were providing services to it for more than 10 years and had no idea why they failed to make the cut. 

Victorian Minister for Technology Gordon Rich-Phillips said the Government decided its needs could not be met by the 188 companies initially named in the revised panel and those excluded could reapply.

“Companies will have another opportunity to secure a place on the panel, which will result in greater choice and competition for departments as well as improved access for more small and medium enterprises to government business opportunities,” Rich-Phillips said.

The Victorian Department of Treasury and Finance will implement a “more streamlined and transparent exemption process” to advise departments engaging companies not on the panel.

Rich-Phillips said "exemptions will not be unreasonably withheld" and reports will be published to the buying  board's website.

The new panel was different from its predecessor in two key ways: It was mandatory for budget-dependent agencies and could be used for projects more than $1 million. And its activities will be overseen by a working party from Government and the ICT industry.

Information about the selection criteria for new tenderers and those recently culled was to be provided by the Treasury. Companies that had submitted bids had the option to resubmit although other bids would also be accepted.