DPS classifies consultants as individuals, partnerships or corporations engaged to provide professional, independent and expert advisory services to the department. DPS engages consultants where there is a need for independent research or assessment, or where specialised or professional skills not available in-house are required.

During 2017–18, 11 new consultancy contracts were entered into, involving total actual expenditure of $255,052 (GST inclusive). In addition, 13 ongoing consultancy contracts were active during the period, involving total actual expenditure of $583,764 (GST inclusive).

The method of procurement for consultancy arrangements is determined by the complexity, nature and value of each individual requirement to achieve a value for money outcome that supports DPS’ business requirements.

Consultants were engaged by DPS via approaches to the market and through DPS’ access to consultancy panels and multi-use lists established by other departments for:

• engineering services
• reviews of resources and processes
• design integrity advice, and
• strategic business planning.

Annual reports contain information about actual expenditure on contracts for consultancies. Information on the value of contracts including consultancies is available on the AusTender website www.tenders.gov.au.