The OTA is an extra small agency committed to leading the delivery of best practice outcomes in organ and tissue donation and transplantation within the Commonwealth Resource Management Framework.

Our staff have a number of duties outlined by the Public Governance Performance and Accountability Act 2013 and have built strong processes and systems to meet these requirements. We are committed to ensuring compliance by providing internal reporting to the Accountable Authority, CEO and Audit Committee on a regular basis. This helps us to identify areas of concern and improve work practices. It also ensures the efficient, effective, economical and ethical use of Commonwealth resources in a way that is consistent with the policies of the Australian Government.

There were no non-compliance issues in 2020–21 that required reporting to the Minister.

Asset management

Our asset management strategy allows us to strategically plan and maintain the optimal asset mix for the effective delivery of our program. It includes:

+ a capital management plan that sets out information about our proposed capital expenditure

+ a detailed policy on the management of assets

+ an asset register, subject to an annual stocktake of fixed and intangible assets. This stocktake helps to confirm the location – and identify the condition – of assets, along with reducing surplus and under-performing assets.

During 2020–21 we made enhancements to the Electronic Donor Register, the DonateLife website and purchased minor computer equipment. We also conducted an independent asset revaluation on property, plant and equipment.

Further information on the value, acquisition and disposal of assets in 2020–21 can be found in Part 4: Financial statements

Purchasing

In 2020–21 our purchasing policies and practices were driven by the Commonwealth Procurement Rules.

Our procurement framework continues to support efficient, effective, economical and ethical procurement outcomes by encouraging competition, value for money, transparency and accountability. During 2020–21 the OTA continued focussing on improving the practices and knowledge of staff and delegates undertaking procurement activities.

Australian National Audit Office access clauses

Our standard contract templates include provisions which allow for the Australian National Audit Office to access a contractor’s premises.

We did not enter into any contracts in 2020–21 that included a variation to the standard terms and conditions allowing such access.

Exempt contracts

During 2020–21 we did not enter into any contracts or any standing offers that were exempt from being published on AusTender.

In accordance with the reporting requirements of the Commonwealth Procurement Rules, details of all contracts with a value of $10,000 or more are published on AusTender.

Procurement initiatives to support small business

We support small business participation in the Australian Government procurement market. Small and medium enterprises and small enterprise participation statistics are available on the Department of Finance’s website at Statistics Australian Government Procurement Contracts

We encourage the participation of small business through exclusively using the Department of Finance’s Commonwealth Contracting Suite (except where placing Official Orders under panel arrangements) for low-risk procurements valued under $200,000 (inclusive of GST). These contract templates streamline the procurement processes for small businesses, in particular, by reducing process costs, removing repetition and ambiguity, simplifying liability, insurance and indemnity requirements, and creating consistency.

In recognition and support of on-time payment performance to small businesses, the small but dedicated nature of our finance team ensures the majority of invoices submitted are paid within a week of acceptance. We also facilitate payment by credit card if, and where, appropriate. The results of the Survey of Australian Government Payments to Small Business are available on the Treasury’s website at www.treasury.gov.au

Grant programs

Funding is provided through grant programs across the clinical and community sectors. Funding provided through grants in 2020–21 included:

+ funding to state and territory governments and local area health districts for a dedicated “DonateLife” donation agency in each jurisdiction and the dedicated donation clinical specialists supporting the clinical program in hospitals

+ public and some private hospital support funding to remove cost barriers to organ and tissue donation

+ funding to support transplant outcome registries

funding for the delivery of the Australian organ matching system – OrganMatch

+ grants offered through partnerships with sporting, corporate and community organisations to support community awareness and education

+ Community Awareness Grants and ad hoc grants have been awarded to community, grassroots, and Indigenous engagement organisations. Our grant recipients deliver a range of events and digital activities across Australia to help increase awareness about organ and tissue donation throughout the year. Many also get involved with DonateLife Week.

Information about 2020–21 awarded grants is available on GrantConnect at www.grants.gov.au

Ecologically sustainable and environmental performance

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 requires that Australian Government organisations report annually on their environmental performance and contribution to ecologically sustainable development. As a small agency, our main environmental impact comes from office space energy consumption and our information and communications technology operations.

In 2020–21 we continued our commitment to ecologically sustainable development by ensuring we effectively delivered corporate strategic priorities while minimising environmental impact. This included a considered approach to planning, implementing and monitoring our environmental performance in accordance with current legislation, whole-of-government requirements and environmental best practice.

Disability reporting

The National Disability Strategy is Australia’s overarching framework for disability reform. It acts to ensure the principles underpinning the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities are incorporated into Australia’s policies and programs that affect people with disability, their families and carers.

All levels of government will continue to be held accountable for the implementation of the strategy through progress reporting to the Australian, state, territory and local governments. Progress reports can be found at www.dss.gov.au

Disability reporting is included the Australian Public Service Commission’s State of the Service reports and the APS Statistical Bulletin. These reports are available at www.apsc.gov.au

Freedom of information

As an agency subject to Part II of the Freedom of Information Act 1982, we are required to publish information to the public as part of the

Information Publication Scheme. All information published in accordance with these requirements is available at Freedom of information

Reportable contract data for 2020–21

The OTA is a non-corporate Commonwealth entity. During 2020-21 we did not conduct any advertising campaigns. The OTA's 2020–21 reportable contract data was as follows:

Expenditure on reportable consultancy contracts

During 2020–21 one new consultancy contract was entered into involving total actual expenditure of $46,365. No other consultancy contracts were active during the period.

Annual reports contain information about actual expenditure on reportable consultancy contracts. Information on the value of reportable consultancy contracts is available on the AusTender website.

Decisions to engage consultants during 2020–21 were made in accordance with the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 and related regulations including Commonwealth Procurement Rules and relevant internal policies.

The OTA selects consultants through the use of panel arrangements or by making an open approach to market. The OTA primarily uses the following three justifications for engaging consultants:

+ skills currently unavailable within the agency

+ need for specialised or professional skills

+ need for independent research or assessment.

Expenditure on reportable non-consultancy contracts

Annual reports contain information about actual expenditure on reportable non-consultancy contracts. Information on the reportable non- consultancy contracts’ value is available on the AusTender website.