Tamworth Regional Council (TRC) is a Local Government Area (LGA) in the New England region of New South Wales. TRC was established in March 2004 through the amalgamation of the former City of Tamworth with the surrounding shires of Barraba, Manilla, Nundle and Parry.
The Tamworth Wastewater 100% Reuse Scheme was a major works program undertaken by TRC involving two key elements.
An alliance project, to upgrade and enhance the existing Westdale wastewater treatment plant, as well as a separate project to design, build and operate an effluent reuse farm on a 1500 hectare site near Tamworth Airport.
We provided probity advice to TRC in relation to the various tender processes employed for selection of the Alliance Facilitator, as well as for the establishment of the Construction Alliance and the selection of the Farm Contractor.
The final selection of the Construction Alliance contractor included a series of alignment workshops with TRC staff and staff from each short-listed construction contractor, organised by the Alliance Facilitator where a Target Outturn Cost (TOC) for the project was developed and refined.
A key component of the non-price assessment for the Farm Contractor, was a series interactive workshops conducted for each short-listed supplier, and coordinated by the Alliance Facilitator.
We attended all alignment and interactive workshops and monitored the conduct of participants.
We reviewed all relevant process documentation including tender documents, evaluation reports, communications and recommendations. We checked that every participant in evaluation or assessment processes signed a Confidentiality Agreement and Conflict of Interest Declaration. Where necessary we responded to ad hoc requests for probity advice on issues arising during the process.
A Probity Management Plan was developed, including various control measures for incumbent contractors already working with TRC on other projects.
We attended and monitored all supplier briefings, site meetings, tender evaluation meetings, and supplier interviews.
Probity Reports were prepared at key milestones for the procurement process.
The total project value was estimated to be about $80 million, and the engagement extended over two and half years to September 2009.
