Closed ATM View - DFAT14-IMD-01
Request for Expressions of Interest for the provision of Network Services.
Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart
DFAT is seeking to achieve the following business objectives:
(a) significantly higher performance Network Services than are in place today through increased economies of scale;
(b) flexibility to cater for individual agency requirements;
(c) more consistent and standardised Network Service arrangements as compared to the present System through a more consolidated approach to provide:
(i) easier, simpler, more consistent and more transparent service operations;
(ii) more cost effective Network Services; and
(iii) increased Network Service security and reliability;
(d) greater efficiency and effectiveness in the provision of global communication services to the Australian Government;
(e) improved management agility and the ability to tailor availability, performance and price to suit the individual needs of specific agencies and applications; and
(f) improvement of the end user experience by various means, including (but not limited to):
(i) increased capacity with higher network bandwidth available to Sites to deliver increased performance;
(ii) an overall reduction in network latency to increase performance at Sites;
(iii) improved Internet access responsiveness;
(iv) a reduced reliance on satellite services by favouring terrestrial services as the default primary telecommunications service (where feasible and desirable, noting a number of sites will still require satellite services for a variety of reasons); and
(v) a more efficient and effective network overall through technological and commercial innovation.
At the same time as the REOI, DFAT is also requesting information on:
(a) a range of alternative commercial and management arrangements to facilitate the network services;
(b) access to the public Internet at each post or via regional hub sites;
(c) local and international fixed line telephony Services at each Post;
(d) mobile communications (telephony and data) services worldwide; and
(e) Unclassified video conferencing services.
Personnel working within the DFAT environment will require a security clearance.
DFAT will exclude a Submission from further consideration if, at any time before a contract is executed following this REOI or any subsequent process, DFAT considers that the Respondent does not meet any one or more of the following conditions for participation:
(a) the Respondent (and any of its proposed subcontractors) must not be named on the list of persons and entities designated as terrorists under the Charter of United Nations (Terrorism and Dealing with Assets) Regulations 2008;
(b) the Respondent (and any of its proposed subcontractors) must not be bankrupt or insolvent; and
(c) the Respondent must be a signatory to the Department of Finance Australian Government Telecommunications Arrangement (AGTA) head agreement at the time of entering any applicable contract with DFAT.
Estimated December 2014.