Consultancy services
We engage consultants where we lack specialist expertise or when independent research, review or assessment is required. Consultants are typically engaged to investigate or diagnose a defined issue or problem; carry out defined reviews or evaluations; or provide independent advice, information or creative solutions to assist in our decision-making.
Before engaging consultants, we consider the skills and resources required for the task, the skills available internally and the cost‑effectiveness of engaging external expertise. The decision to engage a consultant is made in accordance with the Commonwealth Procurement Rules, our procurement policy and other relevant internal policies.
Our policy on selection and engagement of consultants is based on the principles of:
- value for money
- open and effective competition
- ethics and fair dealing
- accountability and reporting
- national competitiveness and industry development
- support for other Australian Government policies.
Tables 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4 summarise the consultancies let and the annual spend, the reason for the
consultancy and the procurement method. All values include goods and services tax.
Table 4.2: Annual spend on consultancies
|
YEAR |
SPENT ($) |
LET ($) (ESTIMATED WHOLE OF LIFE) |
|---|---|---|
|
2012–13 |
1,104,000 |
1,417,754 |
|
2013–14 |
5,294,552 |
5,796,633 |
|
2014–15 |
630,870 |
737,617 |
|
2015–16 |
373,751 |
853,957 |
|
2016–17 |
1,642,455 |
1,440,220 |
|
2017–18 |
1,561,210 |
1,247,100 |
|
2018–19 |
1,553,566 |
1,700,668 |
|
TOTAL |
12,160,404 |
13,193,949 |
Table 4.3: Summary by reason code for 2018–19
|
CATEGORY CODE |
REASON FOR CONSULTANCY |
NUMBER OF CONSULTANCIES |
VALUE ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
IS |
Need for independent study/evaluation |
7 |
827,762 |
|
PA |
Need for professional assistance to manage and facilitate change and its consequence |
4 |
792,574 |
|
SS |
Specialist skills were not otherwise available |
2 |
80,332 |
|
TOTAL |
13 |
1,700,668 |
Table 4.4: Summary by procurement method code for 2018–19
|
CATEGORY CODE |
PROCUREMENT METHOD |
NUMBER OF CONSULTANCIES |
VALUE ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
OT |
Tenders sought from the marketplace through Open Approach (Request for Proposal, Request for Tender, Expressions of Interest). |
||
|
PM |
An existing panel member – this category includes standing offers, common use arrangements and approved supplier panels. |
11 |
1,620,336 |
|
ST |
Tenders being sought from suppliers who have pre-qualified through some form of previous competitive process. |
||
|
RQ |
Purchasing was undertaken in accordance with Division 1 of the Commonwealth procurement rules (CPRs) and procurement did not require application of Division 2 of the CPRs. |
||
|
EX |
Exemption applied that saw CSIRO undertake the procurement as a Limited Tender as defined in Division 2 of the CPRs. |
2 |
80,332 |
|
TOTAL |
13 |
1,700,668 |
Visit
https://www.transparency.gov.au/annual-reports/commonwealth-scientific-and-industrial-research-organisation/reporting-year/2018-2019-39