Consultants Panel

Ms Vanessa Wells







Expression of interest to be appointed to the AgriFood Skills Australia Consultants Panel

AgriFood Skills Australia is seeking proposals for the non-exclusive provision of consulting services to assist with AgriFood projects for the period March 2010 to June 2011.  AgriFood Skills Australia is the Industry Skills Council for the agrifood industry.

AgriFood has planned for the successful delivery of a number of projects aimed at assisting it to meet its objectives. These projects will be managed by AgriFood’s in house project staff, with selected consultants engaged to undertake specific work pursuant to this Request for Proposal.

As a general indication, individual consultancies for particular projects could be in the range of $5,000 to $100,000.

Scope

AgriFood is seeking expressions of interest from providers in the following areas of expertise:

  • Training Package Development
  • Scoping Projects
  • Qualitative and/or Quantitative Research
  • Economic & Demographic Data Collection & Analysis
  • Case Study development
  • Writing Units of Competency
  • Strategic/Business Planning
  • Workplace English Language & Literacy
  • Marketing Strategy Development
  • Support Materials Development
  • Workforce Development
  • VET Policy Formulation
  • Career Pathways Development
  • Event Management
  • Project Management

 It is the expectation of AgriFood that:

  • The expression of interest, and the subsequent evaluations, will result in a select pool of non-exclusive providers of consultancy services to AgriFood for the period indicated above;
  • The pool of providers will work with AgriFood, with the CEO and Project Manager(s) as initial points of contact, on specific matters as required by AgriFood;
  • AgriFood will have absolute discretion in the selection of practitioners or firms from the pool for the provision of services on specific matters as they arise;
  • The consultants in the pool will provide proactive advice that leads to cost effective outcomes and/or knowledge transfer and professional development as appropriate to a limited group of AGRIFOOD officers with the aim of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of AGRIFOOD operations; and
  • AgriFood reserves the right to work outside the pool of providers if there are matters that require some specific expertise that are not present in the pool.

All purchase of services will be in accordance with AgriFood’s procurement policy.  Annexure B.

Disclosures

Practitioners must also provide information and make relevant disclosures in relation to the following:

  • Potential conflicts of interest.
  • Any specialist accreditation (please indicate which area(s) this applies to).
  • Relevant other experience.  Briefly describe any other experience you have that is relevant to your provision of the required services to AGRIFOOD.
  • Professional indemnity and workers compensation insurance.

Timeframe

AgriFood would like to move as quickly as possible to add to its pool of providers. 

Background

AgriFood seeks to develop and enhance high-quality, nationally-recognised training products and services for the agri-food industry. The council represents the broad interests of all agri-food industry sectors through its Board and five industry standing committees.

The council’s contribution is critical to Australia’s economy. The industries we represent generate retail sales in the order of $80 billion (2002 figures), which represent in the order of 46 per cent of retail sales and roughly 24 per cent of exports.
Up to 800,000 people work in our industry sectors, comprising some 140,000 separate enterprises.

We operate in a close and collaborative way with the agrifood industry, including its thousands of enterprises, the unions, industry peak bodies, professional associations and advisory groups at national, state and territory levels. The council acts in collaboration with other industry skills councils, training providers and brokers, companies and also producers as well as all three tiers of government.

The council is principally funded through the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and it is established as a private company reporting to a governing Board of Directors. The directors currently cover five broad industry sectors and are supported by industry standing committees.

Our aim is to provide accurate industry intelligence to the vocational education and training sector about current and future workforce needs and training and workforce development requirements of our industries.  

Inquiries

Inquiries relating to this Request for Proposal are to be directed to

Ms Vanessa Wells
Business Manager
AgriFood Skills Australia
PO Box 5450
KINGSTON ACT 2604
Tel: (612) 6163 7200
Fax: (612) 6162 0610
Email: vanessa.wells@agrifoodskills.net.au
Website: www.agrifoodskills.net.au

Respondent cannot rely on communication with any other person(s) with regard to the expression of interest.

Submission of proposal

Proposals shall be on the standard form and submitted via email or fax to the Vanessa Wells, Business Manager, at vanessa.wells@agrifoodskills.net.au.

AgriFood reserves the right to clarify any aspect of a proposal.

AgriFood has a standard contract with its preferred terms and conditions.

ANNEXURE A

SUBMISSIONS

The following information shall be submitted with the expression of interest form:

• Background information on the respondent
• The Respondent’s business structure
• Respondent contact details
• Professional indemnity and workers compensation insurance details.

ANNEXURE B

PROCUREMENT POLICY

The Principle of Value for Money

Value for money is the core principle underpinning AgriFood’s procurement. In a procurement process this principle requires a comparative analysis of all relevant costs and benefits of each proposal throughout the whole procurement cycle (whole-of-life costing).

Value for money is enhanced in AGRIFOOD procurement by:

 encouraging competition by ensuring non-discrimination in procurement and using competitive procurement processes;
 promoting the use of resources in an efficient, effective and ethical manner and
 making decisions in an accountable and transparent manner.

In order to be in the best position to determine value for money when conducting a procurement process, request documentation needs to specify logical, clearly articulated, comprehensive and relevant conditions for participation and evaluation criteria which will enable the proper identification, assessment and comparison of the costs and benefits of all submissions on a fair and common basis over the whole procurement cycle.

Cost is not the only determining factor in assessing value for money. Rather, when assessing alternative procurement processes or solutions, a whole-of-life assessment would include consideration of factors such as:

 the performance history of each prospective supplier;
 the relative risk of each proposal;
 the flexibility to adapt to possible change over the lifecycle of the property or service;
 financial considerations including all relevant direct and indirect benefits and costs over the whole procurement cycle;
 the evaluation of contract options (for example, contract extension options).

Encouraging Competition

Competition is a key element of AgriFood’s procurement policy framework.  Effective competition requires non-discrimination in procurement and the use of competitive procurement processes.

Efficient, Effective and Ethical Use of Resources

Efficiency relates to the productivity of the resources used to conduct an activity in order to achieve the maximum value for the resources used. In relation to procurement, it includes the selection of a procurement process that is consistent with AGRIFOOD policy and is the most appropriate to the procurement objective under the prevailing circumstances.

Effectiveness relates to how well outcomes meet objectives. It concerns the immediate characteristics of AgriFood’s outputs, especially in terms of price, quality and quantity, and the degree to which outputs contribute to specified outcomes. Effectiveness can be achieved by ensuring that the property or service being sought will make the maximum possible contribution to the relevant outcome. This entails correctly identifying the need, accurately drafting functional specifications, rigorously assessing responses and negotiating the final contract, and then diligently managing the contract. Comprehensive monitoring and assessment at all stages of the procurement process further contributes to effectiveness.

Ethics are the moral boundaries or values within which AGRIFOOD officials work. Ethical behavior encompasses the concepts of honesty, integrity, probity, diligence, fairness, trust, respect and consistency. Ethical behavior identifies and avoids conflicts of interests, and does not make improper use of an individual’s position.

A specific aspect of ethical behaviour relevant to procurement is an overarching obligation to treat all participating potential suppliers as equitably as possible. For example, when providing further information to potential suppliers during the course of procurement, AGRIFOOD needs to ensure that procedures are in place to treat all potential suppliers fairly. The procurement process rules should be clear, open, well understood and applied equitably to all parties to the process.

AGRIFOOD will ensure that officials involved in procurement, particularly those dealing directly with suppliers and potential suppliers:

 recognise and deal with any conflicts of interests, including perceived conflicts of interests;
 deal with suppliers and potential suppliers even-handedly;
 consider seeking advice where probity issues arise;
 do not compromise AgriFood’s standing by accepting inappropriate gifts or hospitality;
 are scrupulous in their use of AGRIFOOD property.

AGRIFOOD must not seek to benefit from supplier practices that may be dishonest, unethical or unsafe.

Procurement of services ought to be conducted in a way that imposes as far as practicable the same level of accountability and responsibility on a service provider as would exist if AGRIFOOD carried out the service itself.

Accountability and Transparency

Accountability and transparency encourages the efficient, effective and ethical use of AGRIFOOD resources. AgriFood’s officials have the responsibility of ensuring that any procurement process is open and transparent and that decisions are justified. AGRIFOOD has procedures in place to ensure that procurement processes are conducted soundly and that procurement related actions are documented, defensible and substantiated.

Accountability and transparency are primary considerations throughout the procurement process from the initial identification of need through to the final disposal of any property.

Documentation is critical to accountability and transparency. It provides a record of procurement activities and how they have been conducted, and facilitates scrutiny of these activities.

AGRIFOOD must maintain appropriate documentation for each procurement. The appropriate mix and level of documentation depends on the nature and risk profile of the procurement being undertaken. In all cases, AGRIFOOD officials need to ensure there is sufficient documentation to provide an understanding of the reasons for the procurement, the process that was followed and all relevant decisions, including approvals, authorisations, and the basis of those decisions.

Documentation requirements vary throughout the procurement cycle. Documentation that may be appropriate for each stage includes, but is not limited to, that shown in below. It is the responsibility of AGRIFOOD officials to ensure that adequate and appropriate documentation is kept for each stage of procurement.
 

  • Process for Procuring Goods and Services
  • Purchases up to $20,000 including GST
  • One written quote is required.
  • A letter of engagement or purchase order may be used to confirm the supply of goods and services signed by the appropriate delegate
  • Purchases between $20,000 and $50,000
  • Two written quotes are required from AgriFood’s preferred list of Supplier/consultants
  • Purchases over $50,000
  • Three written quotes are required from AgriFood’s preferred list of Supplier/consultants or other suppliers as appropriate.