Page 4494 - Week 10 - Thursday, 23 September 2010
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(5) How many projects have not been completed on time and can the Minister provide a list of these projects, including (a) project description, (b) BER funding element, (c) cost and (d) reason for delay.
(6) How many projects have had to be rolled back and/or reworked and can the Minister provide a list of all relevant projects and description of reason for project rollback and rework.
Mr Barr: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
1) In line with the ACT procurement guidelines, a market-tested pricing process was used to select construction managers to deliver the Building the Education Revolution (BER) projects. Trades packages for sub-contract work also followed the ACT procurement guidelines with both the construction managers and ACT Procurement Solutions assessing and approving sub-contracts.
In addition to the assessment of costs, projects were also assessed on the basis of achieving quality outcomes for each ACT public school. This included consultation with school communities on the project preferences and project designs that met the needs of each school as well as regular site inspections to monitor project progress.
2) The ACT Government procurement guidelines are designed to ensure value for money at all stages of a project.
The Building the Education Revolution Implementation Taskforce presented its Interim Report on 6 August 2010 (Orgill Report). This addressed the processes employed by jurisdictions, including the ACT, and the value for money outcomes for selected schools. The report noted that the ACT did not de-scope work as a cost control measure and that the ACT Government chose to fund any extra costs to achieve the original scope.
The Orgill Report can be accessed at http://www.deewr.gov.au/Department/Documents/BERIT_Interim_Report_06082010.pdf
3) Yes, the ACT Government procurement guidelines.
4) Financial management for capital works projects, including the BER projects, is managed by the ACT Government’s procurement agency, ACT Procurement Solutions.
The Department of Education and Training also developed an in-house cost reporting system to record the approved funding allocations for each project and to monitor project payments.
5) All National School Pride projects were completed by the dates approved by the Australian Government. One Primary School for the 21st Century project, at The Woden School, was completed nine days after the approved completion date. This project, which was required to be completed by 31 May 2010, was completed on 9 June 2010.
a) Construction of three new classrooms with student toilet facilities and storage space.
b) The approved project funding from the Australian Government was $850 000 with a further $177 740 approved, comprised of $164 300 reallocated from savings on other BER projects and $13 440 in ACT Government funds.
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