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Community Phones program – Invitation for applications from potential providers of Community Phones to remote Indigenous communities – Q&A

 
1. Is it possible to participate on this tender only for particular state(s) (e.g. 1 or 2 states)? 
   
2. Can we get more/accurate information about the locations of the proposed telephone booths? How many in each state would be an advantage as well? 
   
3. Is there any preferred supplier that we need to get all the telephones or we have to source our supplier? 
   
4. What would be the maintenance period after installations of the telephones?
5. What role will Regional Agents have in the Backing Indigenous Ability Community Phones Program? 
   
6. The Guidelines call for Community Phones to be maintained for the Activity Period. Does the Department expect that initial maintenance responsibility will remain with the community? 
   
7. What is the Department’s expectation regarding the type and frequency of monitoring activity?

1: Is it possible to participate on this tender only for particular state(s) (e.g. 1 or 2 states)?

Item B of the program Guidelines states that “One successful applicant will be selected under the BIA Community Phones program”. Applications are therefore expected to be on the basis of national provision of Community Phones.

2: Can we get more/accurate information about the locations of the proposed telephone booths? How many in each state would be an advantage as well?

The Department is not able to provide details of the locations of communities or names for privacy reasons.

The map is based on Australian Bureau of Statistics survey data which identifies very small Indigenous communities, comprising perhaps one or two family groups who might be identified through the community name.

The map included with the program Guidelines is indicative only. The final list of communities where phones will be installed will depend on individual community’s indicating that they want a phone, and an assessment of the priorities for installations by the Department and its agents.

3: Is there any preferred supplier that we need to get all the telephones or we have to source our supplier?

The program Guidelines do not specify a preferred supplier of the Community Phones.

4: What would be the maintenance period after installations of the telephones?

As identified in Item E of the program Guidelines, “The maintenance services are required to be provided for the entire Activity Period”.

Item D of the program Guidelines states that “The Activity Period will start on the date when the Program Funding Agreement (PFA) is executed and end on 30 June 2011”.

5: What role will Regional Agents have in the Backing Indigenous Ability Community Phones Program?

At this stage the Department does not intend that Regional Agents will have a role in the BIA Community Phones program.

Government Business Agents appointed under the Northern Territory Emergency Response Taskforce are providing on-the-ground liaison with communities in the Northern Territory, similar to the role previously held by Regional Agents in the Telecommunications Action Plan for Remote Indigenous Communities (TAPRIC) Community Phones program.

The Department is negotiating with the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs for the Indigenous Coordination Centres to provide this assistance in other regions.

6: The Guidelines call for Community Phones to be maintained for the Activity Period. Does the Department expect that initial maintenance responsibility will remain with the community?

Maintenance of the Community Phones will be the responsibility of the successful applicant. Experience gained through the TAPRIC program showed that communities were not always able to carry out maintenance to an adequate level to ensure continuing operation of the phones.

The Department intends that communities will understand that the responsibility for monitoring and maintaining the phone will not rest with the community, but that the community will assist if asked.

7: What is the Department’s expectation regarding the type and frequency of monitoring activity?

The Department is requesting proposals for monitoring arrangements to ensure that the Community Phones installed under this funding are maintained in an operational condition. The Guidelines do not prescribe a specific type and frequency of monitoring, however, it is expected that in formulating proposals applicants will consider current industry standards. Proposals will need to include a program of regular monitoring and a mechanism to respond to the need for repairs within an appropriate timeframe, whether this is revealed through the monitoring activity or otherwise notified to the contractor.

• Document ID: 85783 |
• Last modified: 21 July 2008, 10:48am