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Consulting contracts

Defence engages consultants where it lacks specialist expertise or when independent research and assessment is required. The process for selecting consultants is consistent with Defence procurement policies and the Commonwealth Procurement Rules.

This annual report contains information about the number of contracts and total contract value of new consultancy contracts let in 2019-20 based on AusTender (Table C.1) and the actual expenditure on contracts for consultancies (Table C.2). Further information on the value of individual contracts and consultancies is available on the AusTender website, www.tenders.gov.au.

In 2019-20, Defence entered into 330 new consultancy contracts, based on information presented on AusTender, involving total contract value of $66.6 million and actual expenditure of $42.0 million (including GST) for 2019-20. In addition, 310 existing consultancy contracts were active during the 2019-20 reporting year, with total actual expenditure of $68.1 million (including GST).

Table C.1 shows a summary, sorted by Defence Program, of new consultancy contracts entered into during 2019-20 (including GST), based on information presented on AusTender.

Table C.1: New consultancy contracts entered into during 2019–20 (based on AusTender), by program (including GST)

Program

Number of new contracts

Total contract value ($)

Program 2.1 Strategic Policy and Intelligence

29

4,063,864

Program 2.2 Defence Executive Support

15

3,354,123

Program 2.3 Defence Finance

3

198,019

Program 2.4 Joint Capabilities

45

8,859,229

Program 2.5 Navy Capabilities

13

3,147,358

Program 2.6 Army Capabilities

5

772,470

Program 2.7 Air Force Capabilities

25

3,784,143

Program 2.8 Australian Defence Force Headquarters

13

1,491,799

Program 2.9 Capability Acquisition and Sustainment

96

23,380,748

Program 2.10 Estate and Infrastructure

28

7,514,135

Program 2.11 Chief Information Officer

13

4,097,146

Program 2.12 Defence People

34

4,077,663

Program 2.13 Defence Science and Technology

11

1,832,469

Total

330

66,573,166

Table C.2 records total expenditure in-year for consulting contracts rather than the full value of the contract.

Table C.2: Total expenditure on consulting contracts, 2017-18 to 2019-20

Table C.2: Total expenditure on consulting contracts, 2017-18 to 2019-20

2017–18 ($m)

2018–19 ($m)

2019–20 ($m)

Defence

108.8

109.6

114.2

Note: Figures are GST inclusive.