ADF selects ICT industry partners

The Australian Department of Defence has selected five "Preferred Industry Partners" to provide application services to defence. The change is a significant milestone in Defence's strategy to improve the Department's performance in delivering Information and Communications Technology (ICT) capability as part of the Strategic Reform Program.

Defence has traditionally struggled to achieve timely and cutting edge ICT solutions due, in part, to procurement and approval processes that fail to keep pace with technological advances. To improve Defence's ability to deliver contemporary solutions the Applications Managed Services Partnership Arrangement (AMSPA) has been established.

AMSPA will create efficiencies by leveraging industry experience and innovation to further the Department's ICT reform program by rapidly sourcing application development, systems integration and sustainment capability.

After a rigorous tendering process, Defence is pleased to announce that the selected PIPs are:

· Accenture Australia Holdings Limited;

· BAE Systems Australia;

· CSC Australia Pty Ltd;

· IBM Australia Limited; and

· Hewlett Packard Australia Pty Ltd.

As Defence's demand for ICT services continues to grow, these partnerships will enable services to be rapidly sourced within a commercial framework that ensures value for money and reduces risks to the Commonwealth. The PIPs will gain an insight into Defence business enabling them to play a strategic role in project development, suggesting innovative solutions and helping to inform management decisions.

Source: ADF