Provision Of Financial And Procurement Support

As one of the Australia's largest providers of human resources solutions, Chandler Macleod has a proven track record of unleashing potential in people and companies. For over 40 years Chandler Macleod's recruitment business has connected leading-edge projects and employers with outstanding business professionals.

Our Federal Government client is seeking to engage a Provision of Financial and Procurement Support Services on a contract for 10 months with potential extension.

The Department currently manages a number of contractual arrangements for the provision of RRAP.

The RRAP assists non-citizens who wish to voluntarily depart Australia or a Regional Processing Country (RPC), but who require assistance to do so. By facilitating voluntary departure, the Department assists a variety of non-citizen groups, including certain visa holders and Unauthorised Maritime Arrivals to resolve their immigration status in a timely manner.

The RRAP operates on the basis that the voluntary return is a freely taken decision by non-citizens encompassing two critical elements:

- freedom of choice, which is defined by the absence of any physical or psychological pressure; and
- informed decision, which requires the availability of sufficient, accurate and objective information to decide.

To ensure the procurement process is supported by relevant expertise, it is necessary that the Department engages a qualified Financial and Procurement Support specialist(s) to provide support and advice in the following areas:

- Procurement Support and Advice;
- Financial Support and Advisor Services; and
- Negotiation Services.
- Procurement Support and Advisor Services may include but is not limited to:

- review of market testing and contract documentation;
- providing support and advice on any specific or ad-hoc procurement issues raised by the Department;
- other support as required.

Financial Support and Advisor Services may include but is not limited to:

- assessing financial risks and developing strategies for managing the financial risks in a procurement process;
- reviewing and providing advice on the financial aspects of tender documentation including developing appropriate pricing schedules and strategies to cost the tenderer's services;
- contributing to the development of the financial aspects of the tender and tender evaluation methodology;
- reviewing evaluation reports on the financial aspects of tenders, including normalisation of prices, comparison with baseline and identification of realisable savings;
- assessing the financial viability of tenderers and their capacity to deliver the contracted services;
- preparing financial models for baseline costing, and indicative costing of alternative service delivery models and/or cost/benefit analysis;
- providing support and advice in relation to:

- market testing of services including determining the current costs of services, competitive neutrality and strategies to realise savings in the development of financial aspects of the contract
- financial issues of contract negotiations and assessing the impact of accepting suggested changes on relative value for money
- other financial services as required.

Negotiation Services may include but not limited to:

- input into the negotiation strategy and directive for the contract;
- reviewing and providing input into the negotiation report;
- advising on how competitive tension can be maintained throughout the negotiation process;
- participating in contract negotiations, particularly in relation to financial and commercial aspects of the contract; and
- testing assumptions/assertions made by tenderers during negotiations as required by the Department.

**Skill and Experience**:

- Perform to the standards set out by the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB) and the Accounting Professional & Ethical Standards (APES) 205 Conformity with accounting standards.
- Have at least one member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia or CPA Australia nominated as key personnel for this process.
- Have at least one person with demonstrated experience in a similar project.
- Perform services in accordance with legislation, governing procurement including the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.
- Highly desirable:

- Demonstrated experience or knowledge of the Department's operating environment or the ability to quickly acquire.