Page 222 - Week 01 - Thursday, 14 February 2019

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audit into the administration of this major contract. The oversight and performance measures in the contract have improved to ensure that we meet those recommendations and get a better outcome for the many people who interact with this contract and the services it provides.

I would like to thank Housing ACT’s procurement project team for undertaking this complex, high-value and high-risk procurement. The procurement process included considerable consultation and involved a range of groups, including public housing tenants, UnionsACT, United Voice, subcontractors and the community sector. The work being done under this contract is very important to the community and public housing tenants. The tradies and subcontractors are out every day fixing broken windows, changing locks and helping to maintain tenants’ homes.

Throughout the process I wanted everyone to have an opportunity to have a say and really deliver the best outcome. Right from the start, tenants and prospective contractors were brought together to talk through each other’s expectations, which I am told is a new approach to how things are normally done. Tenants made it clear how they would like to be treated in their home, and under the new contract workers and subcontractors are treated fairly to ensure they are engaged correctly and paid in a more timely manner. Housing ACT sought a model of service delivery from tenderers that provided value for money, innovation and flexibility and that would assist Housing ACT to achieve its social outcomes and fulfil its social landlord responsibilities.

Programmed Facility Management Pty Ltd, the successful tenderer, commenced services on 1 November 2018. Programmed proposed the best service model to be delivered in a manner that achieves the key objective and the key service principles of achieving efficiency and value for money, providing best customer experience with a very good approach to responding to tenants’ needs and expectations, promoting social outcomes, and continuously improving quality and innovation.

Since the commencement of services on 1 November 2018, Programmed Facility Management have been working closely with Housing ACT to ensure a seamless transition with minimal disruption to tenants. As part of their tenant employment program, they have recruited two trainees for the customer service and administration centres, sourced from Housing ACT tenants and the disability cohort. Two apprentices from the social cohort groups have been successful in obtaining full-time employment in the multi-trades and plumbing fields.

Programmed Facility Management has also established partnerships with Spark Ginninderry to develop and implement training programs for job readiness for social cohort candidates; Programmed Skilled Workforce, to provide employment opportunities for Indigenous jobseekers; the Alexander Maconochie Centre and Bimberi Youth Detention Centre, who are currently considering and designing training opportunities for people nearing release; and Indigenous organisations, to discuss employment opportunities in the trade industry.

A lot of time and effort has gone into the delivery of this contract, and it is great to have this report to show that the approach taken for procurement was the right one.


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