Contract management for new infrastructure

Tabled Report 16: 2021–22

Tabled date

2022-05-17

Report year

2021-22

Infrastructure

Entities audited

• Department of Education
• Department of Energy and Public Works

Recommendations

1. QAO's text Addressed to: the Department of Energy and Public Works

   strengthens its whole-of-government framework to ensure it clearly states the minimum requirements for managing infrastructure contracts and provides supporting guidelines to public sector entities in applying the framework

2. QAO's text Addressed to: the Department of Energy and Public Works

   reviews and where necessary updates its whole-of-government framework at least every 3 years to ensure it reflects contemporary better practices and lessons learned from contract management activities.

3. QAO's text Addressed to: the Department of Energy and Public Works and the Department of Education

   revise their internal policies, procedures, and guidance for managing infrastructure contracts by

   • outlining specific contract management processes and requirements to complement the government frameworks for managing infrastructure contracts.
   • clearly defining and communicating the roles and responsibilities for managing contracts
   • providing appropriate training and support to staff managing contracts
   • improving contract registers to ensure a complete record of all awarded contracts

4. QAO's text Addressed to: the Department of Energy and Public Works and the Department of Education

   review their internal policies, procedures, and guidance for managing infrastructure contracts at least every 3 years to ensure they reflect contemporary better practices and lessons learned.

5. QAO's text Addressed to: the Department of Energy and Public Works and the Department of Education

   strengthen their contract management by ensuring their planning is in line with the government frameworks and reflects better practice approaches

6. QAO's text Addressed to: the Department of Energy and Public Works and the Department of Education

   implement clearly defined processes and procedures to ensure all contract risks and issues are identified and effectively managed

7. QAO's text Addressed to: the Department of Energy and Public Works and the Department of Education

   apply standardised processes and procedures for recording, evaluating, approving, and reporting on contract variations

8. QAO's text Addressed to: the Department of Energy and Public Works and the Department of Education

   implement clearly defined processes and procedures for developing project design briefs (including specifying what the contract is expected to deliver) and for undertaking stakeholder consultations during the project design stage

9. QAO's text Addressed to: the Department of Energy and Public Works and the Department of Education

   assess, report, and where necessary act on contractor performance

10. QAO's text Addressed to: the Department of Energy and Public Works and the Department of Education

    implement appropriate processes and procedures for sharing lessons learned and better practices from contract management activities.

11. QAO's text Addressed to: all government departments

    We recommend that all government departments review their internal policies, procedures, and guidance for managing infrastructure contracts at least every 3 years and, where necessary, implement changes to enhance their contract management performance.

Authoritative report — Queensland Audit Office

Report PDF on QAO