What is the Digital Sourcing Panels Policy?
The Digital Sourcing Panels Policy encourages competition and makes using panels easier and clearer. It helps government buyers use digital panels and enables new sellers to join panels more often. This policy is guided by principles that support a flexible government and an environment that fosters digital.
The Australian Government agreed to the ICT Procurement Taskforce recommendation for the ‘immediate simplification of a range of ICT procurement practices for agencies, including reforms to ICT procurement panel arrangements.’
The policy delivers on this recommendation for panels and aims to:
- modernise panels
- make panels easy to use for buyers and sellers
- improve access to emerging products and/or services
- reduce costs and duplication
The policy does this by creating a panel certification scheme supported by 8 principles.
The certification scheme helps agencies be recognised as digital sourcing leaders who provide panels that meet the modern expectations of buyers. These panels will attract more buyers and provide them with opportunities for buying the latest technology.
Having certified panels will help agencies attract interest from sellers who are seeking a better experience when selling to government.
Applicability
The Digital Sourcing Panels Policy (the policy) is effective 1 July 2019 and supports the Digital Sourcing Framework.
The policy applies to Non-Corporate Commonwealth Entities, as defined by the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013. Corporate Commonwealth Entities may choose to apply the policy.
The policy is designed for new or updated digital (including ICT) multi-supplier panel arrangements (panels). Multi-supplier panels have 2 or more sellers. Updated panels refer to any of the following scenarios:
- opening a panel to new sellers
- any change to categories, terms, head agreements
- exercising extension options
- making substantial changes to a panel
Policy Requirements
The principles form the basis for certification assessments. Your panel must meet the 8 principles below:
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Avoid duplicating existing panels or categories within panels
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Be for commonly used, clearly defined products and services
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Be open to all agencies with multi-agency access clauses
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Be easy to find by being registered on the DTA website
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Aim to have consistent and user-centred design for requests for quotes, templates, terms and conditions and reporting
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Be regularly monitored and assessed, to ensure it is operating as intended
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Be open at least annually for sellers to apply to join
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Allow for regular updates of pricing and categories
Certification Requirements
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Requirements for the certification of panels are outlined in the Digital Sourcing Panels Policy.