ACCC & AER annual report 2016-17

Finance and corporate services

The Finance Branch is responsible for all ACCC financial matters and asset management. Our Corporate Operations and Property Management teams maintain our offices and plan and coordinate moves and office fit-outs.

Assets management

Assets managed by the ACCC include:

• buildings, including fit-outs and leasehold improvements
• infrastructure, plant and equipment, including office equipment, furniture and fittings and computer equipment
• intangibles, including computer software.

A stocktake and an independent fair value assessment of our buildings, infrastructure, plant and equipment was undertaken to confirm the validity and value of our asset portfolio.

Purchasing

The ACCC supports the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Australian Government procurement market through:

• the Small Business Engagement Principles (outlined in the government’s Industry Innovation and Competitiveness Agenda), such as communicating in clear, simple language and presenting information in an accessible format
• the use of the Commonwealth Contracting Suite for low-risk procurements valued under $200 000
• electronic systems or other processes used to facilitate on-time payment performance, including the use of payment cards.

We use Australian Government resources and spend public money in accordance with the requirements of the PGPA Act and the Commonwealth Procurement Rules.

Responsibility for procurement lies with the financial delegates in each business unit, who have support from a central procurement team. The team advises on risk management, probity, specification development and contract management. Low-risk procurements (valued at less than $80 000) are managed by business units. Procurements of $80 000 or more and whole-of-government and panel arrangements are managed by both the business unit and the central procurement team, ensuring that we comply with the Commonwealth Procurement Rules.

Tenders

We advertise all tender opportunities through the AusTender website, www.tenders.gov.au. All tenders undertaken in 2016–17 were carried out in accordance with the Commonwealth Procurement Rules. Information on contracts and consultancies awarded by us is also available on the AusTender website.

Information on procurements expected to be undertaken in the coming year is included in the ACCC’s annual procurement plan. This plan is updated as and when circumstances change.

Consultancy contracts

During 2016–17, the ACCC/AER entered into 62 new consultancy contracts involving actual expenditure of $4.9 million. In addition, there were 10 ongoing consultancy contracts involving actual expenditure of $0.4 million.

The ACCC and AER engage consultants where we lack specialist expertise or when independent research, review or assessment is required. Consultants typically investigate or diagnose a defined issue or problem; carry out reviews or evaluations; or provide independent advice, information or creative solutions to assist ACCC or AER decision making.

Before engaging consultants, we take into account the skills and resources that are required for the task, the skills that are available internally and the cost-effectiveness of engaging external expertise.

The decision to engage a consultant is made in accordance with the PGPA Act and related regulations, including the Commonwealth Procurement Rules. In 2016–17, we engaged 62 consultants through open tender or limited tender (including through panel arrangements).

Exempt contracts

The ACCC had no exempt contracts for the financial year.