Context
The management of a person or organisation to perform a consultancy function involves departments undertaking additional reporting. It is important to refer to the definition of a consultant as compared to a contractor as both parties could be providing a service.
Consultancy
An arrangement where an individual or organisation is engaged:
to provide expert analysis and advice which facilitates decision making;
to perform a specific, one-off task or set of tasks; and
to perform a task involving skills or perspectives which would not normally be expected to reside within the department.
Note: To be classified as a consultancy, an arrangement should meet all of the criteria for a consultancy.
In contrast, an arrangement with a contractor has the following attributes:
Contractor
An individual or organisation engaged:
- to provide goods, works or services which implement a decision;
- to perform all or part of a new or existing ongoing function to assist a department carry out its defined activities and operational functions; and
- to perform a function involving skills which would normally be expected to reside within the department but which are not currently available.
Key Requirements
1. Management of Consultants
Departments are required to adhere to standard VGPB purchasing policies (processes do not differ between a consultant and contractor).
2. Establish a Consultancy Register
Each department/agency is to maintain a consultancy register as a record of all consultants engaged and the status of current engagements.
As a minimum, departments/agencies should record the following information for each consultancy over $2,000:
- brief description of the consultancy project;
- name of the consultancy firm and principal consultant;
- type of consultancy based on standardised criteria;
- contract or approved value and end cost;
- date contract signed and expected and actual consultancy completion dates;
- dates a consultant evaluation and consultancy post-implementation review were completed;
- name of department project contact officer;
- description of the type of consultant selection procedures used, e.g., written quotes, public tender, exemption granted; and
- registry file number/reference.
Reporting of consultancy data is a component of the annual supply report from departments.
Other Requirements
Nil
Related VGPB Policy and DTF Guidelines
Annual Supply Report from Departments Policy
Related DTF Templates and Forms
Nil
Links to relevant websites
Nil
Version Control Information
 Version Number | 2 |
Release Date | December 2002 |
Further Information | Strategy and Policy, Government Services Division, Department of Treasury and Finance |
Phone | (+613) 868 32944 |
| vgpb@dtf.vic.gov.au |
