Australia's National Local Government Newspaper Online

Evaluation system working well in Councils*

After deciding on a new strategic direction for information technology, Shellharbour City Council issued an IT tender in January. When it became apparent that deadlines were tight, Shellharbour's Director of Community and Corporate Services, Peter O'Rourke, engaged Lange Consulting to assist the tender management team.

Peter was keen to ensure the evaluation of tenders ran smoothly given emerging Y2K pressures and best of breed options within the tender. Lange Consulting offered a practical and proven methodology and specialised tender evaluation software (APET) designed to enhance transparency and accountability.

Lange Consulting had previously provided APET to the Hunter Region Organisation of Councils, Gold Coast, Cairns, Maroochy, Newcastle, Holroyd, and Pine Rivers Councils.

Shellharbour staff evaluated the tenders by entering assessments directly into APET. Tender requirements, such as finance, HR, payroll, records management, mapping, plant, rating, hardware, project management and so forth, were all evaluated concurrently.

Based on APET ranking reports, decisions to shortlist suppliers were made confidently and on schedule. "APET helped us evaluate a large and complex tender quickly and with a minimum of fuss," Peter O'Rourke said. "It did everything we had hoped. "APET made it simple for our staff to enter assessments, reduced the stress usually associated with evaluating tenders, gave us great reporting flexibility, and allowed us to meet our deadlines.

"Councillors too were impressed by the efficiencies introduced by Lange Consulting's methods and software. From what I saw, I am confident APET could manage most tenders issued by Councils."

Click here to visit the Lange Consulting web site

*Copy supplied by Lange Consulting.

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