ICT Managed Services Assessment, Transition and Sourcing Review

This Tender is invited by the Issuer. Overview The Department of Social Services (DSS) is seeking an independent specialist supplier to assess its current ICT managed service arrangements with Services Australia and provide evidence-based, decision-ready advice on future service delivery and sourcing options, governance, funding, workforce, commercial arrangements and transition pathways. Purpose The review will inform future ICT strategy, sourcing, funding, workforce and operating-model decisions. It will not design DSS's future ICT operating model, prescribe its organisational structure, assume that all services will transition to DSS, or prepare or lodge a formal NPP. Scope The scope includes: Establishing a validated current-state baseline covering service boundaries and consumers, operational practices, governance, performance, workforce structure and capability, funding and cost recovery, contracts, licences, assets, suppliers, dependencies, risks and transition readiness Considering DSS and other relevant service-consuming entities, including NQSC, NCATSICYP and DFSVC, and addressing contract novation and dual-provider implications where relevant Identifying service gaps, overlaps, unclear accountabilities, operational issues, funding mismatches, risks and improvement opportunities Assessing realistic future service delivery and sourcing options, including continued Services Australia delivery, selective transition to DSS, hybrid delivery, alternative providers, managed services, cloud or SaaS, consolidation, automation and retirement Developing workforce scenarios covering APS, temporary external capability and enduring hybrid delivery Assessing section 74 and cost-recovery models, contracts, licences, assets and supplier arrangements Identifying business continuity, transition readiness, modernisation and ICT hygiene requirements Assessing options consistently against service quality, continuity, accountability, workforce, funding, commercial, architecture, cybersecurity, implementation, affordability, risk and whole-of-life value for money Providing practical recommendations and a transition roadmap covering approximately the next two to two-and-a-half years Key Outputs Current-state, entity, workforce, funding and commercial baselines Contract, licence, asset and supplier analysis Section 74 and cost-recovery options Future service delivery and sourcing options Workforce scenarios Continuity, modernisation and transition-readiness assessments A transition roadmap Negotiation and investment evidence, including a draft transition funding proposal and NPP-ready evidence FY2028 Digital Investment Plan implications Executive decision packs Knowledge-transfer materials Contract Terms and Conditions Delivery is expected to occur in two tranches between November 2026 and March 2027 Tranche 1 is due in late January or early February 2027 Tranche 2 is due by 31 March 2027 Up to two optional one-month extensions may be exercised if required Instructions to Tenderers Further details are provided in the attached Statement of Requirements.