A performance audit into the purchase of a Corrective Services vehicle unable to carry the load it was bought for has found ACT Corrective Services failed to implement effective procurement processes.
In his report, Court Transport Unit Vehicle – Romeo 5, Auditor-General Michael Harris said the vehicle was intended to carry up to eight detainees and two custodial officers but did not comply with weight requirements so could only carry a maximum of four detainees and two officers.
“ACT Corrective Services did not implement effective processes for the procurement of the Romeo 5 vehicle,” Mr Harris said.
“Management and staff did not adequately consider and apply legislative, policy and procedural requirements or adequately consider the procurement risk environment,” he said.
“As a result of the procurement failures, the Court Transport Unit vehicle that was commissioned is not fit for purpose and is now largely redundant.”
Mr Harris said ACT Corrective Services engaged a preferred supplier (the Byron group) without testing the market or seeking alternative quotes.
“This was not appropriate for a complex and high-risk procurement such as this and shows a predetermined outcome was being sought without consideration of alternative solutions or suppliers,” he said.
“A fundamental failure is that ACT Corrective Services did not have a contract with the Byron Group, which adequately documented the specifications and requirements for the vehicle and timeframes for its delivery,” he said.
The Auditor-General made two recommendations aimed at improving ACT Corrective Services procurement framework, reviewing its need for, and use of, the vehicle and outlining a clear vision of what its expectations were for the use of Romeo 5.
The 61-page Audit Report can be accessed at this PS News link with the audit team Kellie Plummer and Taylah Commisso with support from David Kelly.
