Media Release

MAJOR CHANGES TO REQUEST FOR TENDER FORM

Defence's standard Request for Tender (RFT) form has undergone major change to align it with current Defence industry policy and Year 2000 compliance.

The changes to the RFT and contracting template, DEFPUR 101, should provide Defence procurement staff with a clearer method of evaluating tenders and reduce the time and cost associated with procurement of large and complex Defence purchases.

"The use of the new DEFPUR 101 by both military and civilian Defence staff provides consistency in the approach taken to major capital equipment and complex minor equipment," the Director of Contracting Policy, Mr Mark Reynolds, said today.

"Amendment 3 as the changes are known relate to areas such as Limitation of Liability, Australian Industry Involvement and Year 2000 compliance. A number of the changes flow from the Defence Industry Policy Statement released last June."

Mr Reynolds said the Limitation of Liability regime includes a new Conditions of Tender clause that says the Commonwealth prefers to rely on Common Law assessment of liability for both product and third party damages.

"At the same time, however, the clause also seeks to provide tenderers with a viable means of offering a limitation of liability position without simply being assessed as non-compliant in their tender response.

"To facilitate this, and to provide Defence procurement staff with a clear method of evaluation, the new clause requires tenderers to include a detailed risk assessment to support any limits submitted in their tender response.

"The new regime in Amendment 3 should provide a clearer path on the issue for both Defence and industry."

Further information:
Garth Cooke : (02) 6265 6769

Issued by the Defence Public Affairs Organisation, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT, 2600

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