Media release
This report examined whether HealthShare NSW, a part of NSW Health, has the required contract management capability to effectively manage goods and services contracts valued over $250,000.
The report found that HealthShare has a procurement framework that should support effective contract management, but it is not applying it consistently. In particular, the audit found that HealthShare was not applying key contract management elements to over 80 per cent of the high-value contracts it manages. The audit also found that HealthShare’s contract management practices were limited by inadequate performance monitoring.
'Effective contract management is essential to ensure the contracts HealthShare enters into are delivering as expected and ensuring value for money,' said the Auditor-General. 'Without this, the value for money or savings HealthShare achieves when it negotiates these contracts is at risk of being eroded over the life of the contract.'
The report recommends that NSW Health develop a performance improvement plan to ensure HealthShare is fully compliant with procurement policies and that NSW Health meets its obligations under the Government's Accreditation Program for Goods and Services Procurement.
HealthShare is a NSW Health entity responsible for providing shared services, including procurement, to support the delivery of patient care within the NSW health system. In 2018, HealthShare procured high value goods and services contracts with an annual estimated total spend of around $1.8 billion, with most of the contracts of long duration.
Executive summary
NSW Government agencies are increasingly delivering services and projects through contracts with third parties. These contracts can be complex and governments face challenges in negotiating and implementing them effectively. A robust contract management framework helps ensure all parties meet their obligations, contractual relationships are well managed, agencies achieve value for money, and deliverables meet the required standards and agreed timeframes.
Contract management capability is a broad term, which can include aspects of individual staff capability (such as staff knowledge, skills and experience) as well as organisational capability (such as policies, frameworks and processes).
The NSW Procurement Board is responsible for overseeing the Government's procurement system, setting policy and ensuring compliance. It has accredited the Health Administration Corporation (HAC) to procure goods and services with no upper financial limit. Under the terms of this accreditation, the Secretary, NSW Health (as head of HAC) has delegated the procurement of high-value (over $250,000) goods and services contracts within NSW Health to only the Ministry of Health and HealthShare NSW (HealthShare).
HealthShare NSW (HealthShare) is a NSW Health entity responsible for providing shared services, including procurement, to support the delivery of patient care within the NSW health system. In 2018, HealthShare procured high-value goods and services contracts with an annual estimated total spend of around $1.8 billion, with most of the contracts of long duration.
HealthShare’s Contract Management Guide states that, without rigorous contract management, 75 per cent of projected sourcing savings can disappear within 18 months of the contract starting.
This audit examined whether HealthShare has the required capability to effectively manage high-value goods and services contracts. Contracts we examined included critical items such as food services in hospitals, patient transport services, intravenous equipment and kidney dialysis services, where risks include patient safety as well as value for money. We did not examine infrastructure, construction or information communication and technology contracts. We also did not examine HealthShare’s sourcing processes, including identifying business needs, tendering and contract award.
We assessed HealthShare against the following criteria:
- HealthShare's systems, policies and procedures support effective contract management and are consistent with relevant frameworks, policies and guidelines.
- HealthShare has capable personnel to effectively conduct the monitoring activities throughout the life of the contract.
We included the NSW Public Service Commission and NSW Treasury, through NSW Procurement, as auditees because they administer policies which directly affect contract management capability. These include:
- NSW Procurement Board Directions and policies
- NSW Government Procurement Policy Framework
- Accreditation Program for Goods and Services Procurement
- the NSW Public Sector Capability Framework.
NSW Procurement was transferred to NSW Treasury from the former Department of Finance, Services and Innovation on 1 July 2019 as part of changes to government administrative arrangements.
1. Key findings
HealthShare is not using contract management plans for over 80 per cent of the contracts it manages
In 2018, the estimated annual expenditure by NSW Health entities from whole-of-government/whole-of-health contracts and whole-of-health head agreements was around $1.5 billion from 122 contracts with an overall value of around $8.6 billion. These contracts include 515 individual supplier agreements. Only 21 of these 122 contracts have contract management plans. Discussions with senior HealthShare personnel indicated that it does not routinely develop and use contract management plans.
Contract management plans for high-value goods and services procurements are a mandatory requirement of the accreditation program and the Ministry of Health’s procurement policy. HealthShare's procurement framework requires contract managers to start developing a contract management plan during the sourcing stage and provides a detailed template for the development of such plans.
Contract management plans are a key contract management tool which enables contract managers to track suppliers’ obligations, as well as its own obligations under the contract.
HealthShare is not effectively using PROcure, a mandatory contract management tool
The Ministry of Health and HealthShare have invested in developing and implementing systems and tools to support effective contract management. The Ministry of Health has mandated the use of the PROcure contract management system for ongoing management of contracts.
The NSW Health Procurement policy describes PROcure as a workflow system used for managing procurement processes and ongoing contract management for goods and services, including the capture of contract information. Since mid-2015, the Ministry of Health has required HealthShare and LHDs to record details of all NSW Health contracts greater than $150,000 in PROcure. Contract managers are responsible for recording the contract details in PROcure, and for the ongoing administration and management of the contract using PROcure.
We found deficiencies in how HealthShare recorded contract information in PROcure. For example, none of the contracts we reviewed included documents evidencing ongoing contract management, such as meeting minutes or supplier reports. We also found that HealthShare recorded contract management plans as existing on PROcure when they did not.
HealthShare advised that the limited use of PROcure was because the system could not manage complex whole-of-health panel arrangements. HealthShare began addressing these issues in late 2017 and aims to complete system enhancements and migrate all contract management activity into PROcure by the end of 2020.
HealthShare's contract management practices are limited by inadequate performance monitoring
HealthShare advised that it does not have the capacity to closely manage individual contract performance, and even if it did, it does not have the information to do so. HealthShare also advised it uses a risk and exception-based approach to manage its contracts due to these constraints. This primarily involves HealthShare contract managers relying on information they receive from contract users and suppliers.
In the absence of contract management plans or information in PROcure, we looked at other practices that would indicate that HealthShare effectively managed contract performance. However, in the contracts we reviewed we found that HealthShare’s contract management practices are limited by inadequate performance monitoring, which included:
- not holding all supplier performance meetings as required
- not always holding suppliers to their reporting obligations
- not validating performance information provided by suppliers
- not always applying available sanctions for significant breaches, including those that resulted in product recalls
- failing to establish KPIs to manage supplier performance for a significant whole-of-health contract
- inconsistent use of the Health Quality Reporting System that captures performance issues for clinical products and services across the NSW Health system.
HealthShare does not provide enough information for customers in contract user guides
When HealthShare establishes a whole-of-health head agreement that includes specific contracts for customers such as Local Health Districts (LHD)s, it prepares a user guide to assist them to manage purchases from each supplier in the head agreement.
However, the user guides we reviewed did not sufficiently explain the provisions of the contract relevant to customers. For example, the user guides did not include information on what to do in the event of defective or incorrect goods or who to contact in HealthShare to seek advice.
See Exhibit 8 for additional items that could be included in a contract user guide.
HealthShare’s transfer of contract management responsibilities for some high-value contracts to Local Health Districts contravenes Ministry of Health procurement policy
For high-value LHD specific contracts, we found that HealthShare was only managing the sourcing stage of the procurement and leaving responsibility for contract management to the relevant LHD. In doing so, HealthShare contravened the Ministry of Health procurement policy which limits the sourcing and contract management of high-value goods and services for all NSW Health entities to only HealthShare and the Ministry. HealthShare does not have the authority to transfer its responsibilities for managing high-value goods and services contracts to other NSW Health entities.
NSW Health acknowledges that the transfer of contract management responsibilities for some high-value contracts to LHDs ‘may pose some risk’. In the six LHD specific contracts we reviewed, we found poor contract management practices such as limited analysis of supplier performance against the contract requirements.
NSW Health also acknowledged that this arrangement needs to be reviewed in the context of accreditation program requirements, expectations of the NSW Procurement Board and the broader NSW Health policy framework.
We sought clarification on whether this delegation was appropriate under the obligations of the accreditation program. NSW Procurement advised that the accreditation program does not prescribe how accredited entities delegate procurement responsibilities.
HealthShare provides limited guidance on how contract managers can validate performance information
It is important for contract managers to validate performance information provided by suppliers to ensure that the agency is achieving value for money. HealthShare's Contract Management Guide lists a range of approaches to validate performance information provided by suppliers in the contract management plan template. However, it does not apply a structured approach to assist contract managers to choose the best validation strategy according to contract risk. This could lead to inconsistent practice and contracts not delivering what they are supposed to.
HealthShare has a systematic approach to managing staff contract management capability
NSW Procurement, in consultation with the NSW Public Service Commission (PSC), has developed a program called the Procurement Capability Compass. The Compass program is a Whole-of-Government procurement capability assessment tool that is aligned with the PSC’s capability framework. The Compass program is designed to measure the baseline of procurement knowledge across a team by helping individual staff identify their strengths and development areas.
HealthShare is using the Compass program to assess the procurement capability of its staff annually, starting in 2019. As part of the accreditation program, HealthShare reported the aggregated results of the Compass program for 2018–19 to NSW Procurement.
The Health Administration Corporation did not report its non compliance with the contract management requirements of its accreditation obligations to the NSW Procurement Board
As part of its obligations under the accreditation program, HAC must annually submit a certificate confirming compliance with its accreditation obligations. NSW Health's 2017–18 certificate includes an attestation by the Chief Procurement Officer and a Deputy Secretary that NSW Health has tested (and confirmed) its compliance with the NSW Procurement Board’s Procurement Policy Framework.
The certificate does not include mention of any non-compliance despite our findings in relation to the widespread non-use of contract management plans.
2. Recommendations
By November 2019, the Health Administration Corporation should:
1. notify the NSW Procurement Board of the results of this audit in relation to the non-use of contract management plans as a trigger event under the Accreditation Program for Goods and Services Procurement.
By May 2020, the Health Administration Corporation should:
2. work with NSW Procurement to develop a Trigger Event Action Plan to enable it to fully meet, by November 2020, its obligations under the Accreditation Program for Goods and Services Procurement.
By May 2020, NSW Health should:
3. develop a performance improvement plan for HealthShare NSW to fully meet, by November 2020, its compliance with Ministry of Health procurement policies. The performance improvement plan should include:
- improving supplier performance management
- effectively using contract management tools, including contract management plans and PROcure
- ensuring LHD specific contracts are managed in line with Ministry of Health procurement policy
- developing a risk-based framework to validate performance information to assist contract managers to select and justify appropriate validation methods for performance information
- improving customer user guides for whole of health head agreements by explaining the provisions of the contract relevant to customers as well as information on how customers can report performance issues to HealthShare NSW.
3. Lessons from relevant previous performance audits
As part of our 2019 performance audit ‘Ensuring contract management capability in government - Department of Education’, we identified that the Department of Education could improve its contract management by improving the guidance it provided to assist contract managers. Specifically, we noted that contract managers would benefit from guidance that assisted them to select the best strategy, according to contract risk, to validate performance data provided by suppliers.
As part of our 2014 performance audit ‘Making the Most of Government Purchasing Power – Telecommunications’ we identified strategies that agencies could implement to improve their contract management. These elements included:
- contract management delegations that are clear and consistent with general financial delegations
- appropriate reporting and oversight practices for contract management
- regular review of their Contract Management Framework
- independent internal monitoring of individual contracts to check compliance
- roles and responsibilities are determined and assigned
- the skills and experience required to manage each contract is assessed and sourced
- each contract has a risk-based contract management plan.
1. Introduction
1.1 NSW Government procurement of goods and services
The NSW Government procures goods and services from third parties to support the delivery of government services. In 2017–18, NSW Government agencies spent $22.0 billion on goods and services. For NSW Government agencies, procurement is a whole of contract life cycle process that includes working with the market, identifying business needs, tendering and negotiation, contract management and evaluation. Exhibit 1 outlines the various stages in the procurement cycle as identified by NSW Procurement.
The NSW Procurement Board (the Board) is responsible for overseeing the government’s procurement system, setting policy and monitoring compliance. It has the statutory power to issue directions to agencies and monitor the progress of agency compliance. The Board requires agencies be accredited by it to undertake their own procurement of goods and services valued at $650,000 or more. Following the Board assessing the capability of the Ministry of Health and HealthShare NSW it accredited the Health Administrative Corporation to procure goods and services with no maximum contract value.
Under the Health Administration Act 1982, the Secretary of NSW Health is given corporate status as the Health Administration Corporation. The Health Administration Corporation established HealthShare NSW as a state-wide organisation responsible for providing shared services, including procurement, to support the delivery of patient care across the NSW health system.
Agency heads are responsible for managing their agency's procurement, and in some circumstances, procurement for other agencies. Agency heads typically delegate responsibility for all types of goods and services procurement to separate parts of their agency. In the context of NSW Health, the Secretary of NSW Health has delegated responsibility for the procurement of high-value (over $250,000) goods and services to HealthShare NSW and the Ministry of Health, but not Local Health Districts.
The NSW Government Procurement Policy Framework states that accredited agencies are responsible for establishing and managing internal procurement systems and governance mechanisms, in compliance with the Board’s directions and policies.
Critical to this governance is the appointment of a cluster or agency Chief Procurement Officer, effective procurement planning, robust internal purchasing systems, efficient approval processes, and the appropriate delegation of authority. Agencies are required to prepare a procurement strategy and plans that reflect the procurement needs of the agency. These should be consistent with the Board’s category management plans and relevant government policies.
1.2 Contract management capability
Contract management capability is a broad term, which can include aspects of individual staff capability as well as organisational capability (such as policies, frameworks and processes). The Australian National Audit Office described contract management capability as having several dimensions, including:
- the necessary level of senior management commitment and support
- the capacity to develop and maintain an up-to-date contracting policy and procedural framework
- staff who exercise procurement delegations with experience and knowledge commensurate with the size, nature and complexity of the contracting activities on which they make decisions
- sufficient time and resources to properly manage the contract, including access to specialist skills where needed
- individual contract managers with a level of knowledge, skills and experience commensurate with their contracting responsibilities.
NSW Government policies, frameworks and guidance which relate to contract management capability
NSW Government Procurement Policy Framework
In July 2015, the NSW Procurement Board issued the updated NSW Government Procurement Policy Framework (the Framework). The Framework was further updated in July 2019. The Framework objectives are value for money, fair and open competition, easy to do business, innovation, economic development, social outcomes and sustainability. NSW Government agencies must ensure their internal policies and controls are consistent with the mandatory requirements set out in the Framework. The mandatory requirements include financial management obligations and policies relating to fraud and corruption control.
The Framework does not provide detailed guidance for contract management. It refers to other specific guidelines and policies for different types of contracts, such as Building and Construction Procurement Guidelines; and Procurement Board Direction for Approved Procurement Arrangements for goods and services.
Accreditation Program for Goods and Services Procurement
The Accreditation Program for Goods and Services Procurement (the accreditation program) establishes minimum standards for agency procurement as a basis for improving the outcomes delivered across government. It is governed by the NSW Procurement Board and administered by NSW Procurement on behalf of the Board. On 1 November 2018, the accreditation program replaced the goods and services category of the Agency Accreditation Scheme for Procurement.
Under the accreditation program, agencies can attain one of two accreditation levels by using an independent third-party assessor to demonstrate to the NSW Procurement Board that they meet the capabilities described above. Once the Board accredits an agency, the agency is required to comply with annual self-reporting requirements. The agency holds its level of accreditation in perpetuity until a trigger event results in a review or remediation process.
The minimum requirements for capabilities that relate to contract management include:
- Procurement policy and procedures – compliance with the NSW Procurement Policy Framework, NSW Procurement Board directions and policies.
- Capability – agencies continuously develop procurement capability to meet business needs.
- Contract management – agencies monitor and manage contract requirements to ensure value is realised and risk is managed.
NSW Public Sector Capability Framework
The NSW Public Service Commission has developed a capability framework for use across NSW Government agencies. The capability framework describes the capabilities and associated behaviours that are expected of all NSW public sector employees, at every level and in every organisation. It supports the full range of workforce management and development activities: role design and description; recruitment; performance management; learning and development and strategic workforce planning.
The Public Service Commission recommends that NSW Government agencies apply the Capability Framework, however use of the framework is not mandatory. The Capability Framework is applicable to all public-sector roles, both executive and non-executive. Under the Capability Framework, every role requires all the capabilities in the Capability Framework at an appropriate level. This includes the Procurement and Contract Management capability. Exhibit 2 outlines the five levels of capability for procurement and contract management.
Foundational |
Comply with basic ordering, receipting and payment processes Apply basic checking and quality control processes to activities which support procurement and contract management |
Intermediate |
Understand and comply with legal, policy and organisational guidelines and procedures in relation to procurement and contract management Conduct delegated purchasing activities, complying with prescribed guidelines and procedures Work with providers, suppliers, and contractors to ensure that outcomes are delivered in line with time and quality requirements |
Adept |
Apply legal, policy and organisational guidelines and procedures in relation to procurement and contract management Develop well written, well structured procurement documentation that clearly sets out the business requirements Monitor procurement and contract management processes to ensure they are open, transparent and competitive, and that contract performance is effective Be aware of procurement and contract management risks, and what actions are expected to mitigate these Evaluate tenders and select providers in an objective and rigorous way, in line with established guidelines and principles Escalate procurement and contract management issues where required |
Advanced |
Ensure that government and organisational policy in relation to procurement and contract management is implemented Monitor procurement and contract management risks and ensure that this informs contract development, management and procurement decisions Take responsibility for procurement and contract management activities and decisions by applying the guidelines and procedures Promote the principles of risk management as applied to procurement projects, to identify and mitigate risk Implement effective governance arrangements to monitor provider, supplier and contractor performance against contracted deliverables and outcomes Represent the organisation in the resolution of complex/sensitive disputes with providers, suppliers and contractors |
Highly advanced |
Ensure that whole-of-government approaches to procurement and contract management are integrated into the organisation's policies and practices Ensure that effective governance processes are in place for the organisation's provider, supplier and contractor management, tendering, procurement and contracting policies, processes and outcomes Monitor and evaluate both compliance and effectiveness of procurement and contract management within the organisation |
Procurement Professional Capability Set
Procurement: |
Contract Management Effectively manage the performance of suppliers through robust contract frameworks, successfully delivering contractual obligations. |
Level 1 |
Follow all required processes in administering straightforward contracts Update contract registers and utilise systems to record and manage supplier performance and feedback Comply with contract management plans Monitor compliance with contract management plans Administer straightforward contracts to ensure accuracy of pricing, scope variations, updates to terms and conditions. Monitor and report on contract milestones and outcomes Effectively deal with internal procurement feedback about suppliers on issues such as quality, timeliness, service and price Review KPIs and meet with suppliers to monitor and manage routine performance |
Level 2 |
Systematically follow contract management and administration guidelines on key contracts Record contract documentation and performance outcomes Manage suppliers to ensure goods, services and projects are delivered in line with agreed terms and conditions (on-time, on-cost, quality etc.) Administer routine to complex contracts to ensure accuracy of pricing, scope variations and updates to terms and conditions. Monitor and report on milestones and outcomes. Undertake internal surveys and performance feedback as input into supplier performance reviews for straightforward contracts Establish KPIs, performance metrics and SLAs for simple straightforward categories with some guidance and support for more complex areas Capture and report on contract performance to measure value and effectiveness of incentives |
Level 3 |
Utilise tools and systems to analyse and interpret a wide variety of supplier and performance related information to drive better outcomes through the relationship Ensure the contracted services are delivered in accordance with the intent of the contract, risks are identified and performance effectively managed Administer complex contracts such as outsourced arrangements and joint ventures Review and negotiate contract variations and monitor the contract database to ensure contract details are up to date Work with internal business partners to define and provide a single face to the supply market, ensure agreements are fully understood and utilised and performance issues are addressed effectively Effectively analyse data to assess strategic supplier performance and identify changes/improvements needed to deliver better outcomes |
Level 4 |
Establish mechanisms to ensure contracts are effectively governed both within and outside of the procurement function Manage and adjust complex and strategic contracts to meet the intent of the business need and continue to add value Develop the overall plan for contract administration and set priorities and targets for renewal and extensions based on the business needs and market conditions Lead expert reference groups for key areas of spend and effectively work with business partners to support procurement programs and supply chain initiatives Lead the development and implementation of innovative performance and measurement metrics and incentive schemes Identify and mitigate variation and change claims which arise, and resolve conflict with suppliers |
Level 5 |
Establish and maintain effective frameworks (such as Contract Lifecycle Management systems) and structures to manage all organisational supply arrangements Ensure all contracts are effectively reviewed and managed to drive better outcomes Drive innovation and best practice throughout the supply chain Provide leadership and direction to contract management teams Set the overall business objectives and contract management objectives Provide expert advice and strategies on all supplier related matters at senior levels in the organisation Assess strategic suppliers and key supply markets to identify opportunities to improve the performance of the supply base |
1.3 About NSW Health
NSW Health distributes responsibility for the procurement of goods and services, including contract management, to the Ministry of Health (the Ministry), HealthShare NSW, Local Health Districts (LHDs) and hospital networks.
The Ministry of Health is responsible for setting and maintaining procurement policy across all of NSW Health as well as coordinating procurement and contract management training. The policy must be consistent with the Public Works and Procurement Act 1912, the NSW Government Procurement Policy Framework, and directions issued by the NSW Procurement Board. The Chief Procurement Officer at the Ministry of Health approves key amendments to contracts such as to the specified contract period or exceptions to policy.
Exhibit 4 outlines the NSW Health procurement policy structure for goods and services.
The Health Administration Corporation (HAC), is accredited under the Agency Accreditation Scheme for goods and services procurement without an upper value limit. The Secretary, NSW Health, as head of HAC has delegated authority to procure goods and services valued at over $250,000 to the Ministry of Health and HealthShare NSW only and not to LHDs.
HealthShare NSW (HealthShare) is a NSW Health entity which provides shared services, including procurement of goods and services, for the Health cluster. It is responsible for initiating, sourcing, planning and contract management for goods and services procurement, through the creation of panel-based contract arrangements for whole-of-government or whole-of-health use, as well as procurements over $250,000 initiated by LHDs. HealthShare provides support to individual LHDs that wish to procure goods and services outside of the panel arrangements.
There are 15 LHDs and three hospital specialist networks that are responsible for providing health services in a wide range of settings, from primary care posts in the remote outback to metropolitan tertiary health centres. Eight LHDs cover the greater Sydney metropolitan regions, and seven cover rural and regional NSW. LHDs and hospital networks are responsible for the day-to-day contract management, including purchasing (as customers under panel arrangements), contract monitoring and managing contractor performance in relation to their specific customer contracts.
Exhibit 5 outlines the NSW Health goods and services accreditation scheme arrangement.
Types of contracts administered by HealthShare
Depending on the type of contract, HealthShare can share responsibility for contract management and performance monitoring with LHDs. There are also contracts that HealthShare has no involvement in at all. These will be for amounts under $250,000 or where the Chief Procurement Officer grants an exemption, or where the contracts are out of scope for HealthShare.
There were three types of contracts we examined as part of this audit:
- Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Health contracts that are established and managed by HealthShare throughout the life of the contract. Food Services is a whole-of-government contract used by government agencies such as Corrective Services, Transport and Family and Community Services, as well as NSW Health. Agencies can purchase goods and services from a range of suppliers using the terms established in the HealthShare managed whole-of-government contract. Agencies are responsible for managing the performance of the supplier they contract with. Patient Transport Services is a whole-of-health contract managed by HealthShare. For both types of contracts, LHDs and other NSW Health entities can order a good or service through a catalogue managed by HealthShare, which does not establish a contractual relationship with the supplier.
- Whole-of-Health head agreements with customer contracts that are tendered and established by HealthShare and used by all NSW Health entities, including LHDs. These contracts consist of a head agreement for a range of products from a range of suppliers at quoted prices. LHDs then establish a separate customer contract with its chosen supplier and products from the Head agreement. The contract management role is shared between HealthShare and LHDs, but the daily management and monitoring activities for customer contracts is done by LHDs. HealthShare may prepare a User Guide to assist purchasers in understanding limited contract features such as delivery timeframes, supplier and HealthShare contacts and pricing schedules for contract items.
Under NSW Procurement Board policy and Ministry of Health policy, all NSW Health entities (including LHDs) must purchase through existing whole-of-government/whole-of-health contracts and whole-of-health head agreements with customer contracts where the goods and services required are covered by the contracts. In 2018, the estimated annual expenditure by NSW Health entities from whole-of-government/whole-of-health contracts and whole-of-health head agreements was around $1.5 billion from 122 contracts with an overall value of around $8.6 billion. These contracts include 515 individual supplier agreements.
- LHD specific contracts over $250,000 that are initiated by LHDs, then set up by HealthShare to be managed by LHDs. HealthShare is involved at the beginning and at the end of the contracts, by helping LHDs to source, negotiate and establish contracts, as well as plan for contract renewal. In 2018, the estimated annual expenditure for LHD specific contracts was around $290 million from 416 contracts with an overall value of around $1 billion.
In developing LHD specific contracts, LHDs have internal procurement teams that engage with various stakeholders (such as hospital managers or senior clinicians) to understand and specify the procurement need. The LHD procurement team then shares this information with HealthShare, which manages the tender and procurement process on behalf of the LHD. HealthShare works with LHDs in negotiating with tenderers, and with planning for end of contract/contract renewal. Some LHD specific contracts may have more than one LHD as the Principal, or Principal’s delegate.
All of the above contract types are complex and extensive. Typically, the general conditions for a head agreement will have around 80 or more potential intervention points where a contract manager may need to make a decision, as well as numerous intervention points in the specification. One of the contracts we reviewed included over 30 intervention points. Additionally, there are usually KPIs which require measurement, monitoring and action if not met. There were between zero and 25 KPIs in the contracts we reviewed. See Exhibit 6 for details about the contracts we reviewed.
1.4 About the Audit
This audit examined whether HealthShare has the required capability to effectively manage high-value goods and services contracts. We included the NSW Public Service Commission and NSW Treasury, through NSW Procurement, as auditees as they administer policies influencing agencies’ contract management capability. On 1 July 2019, as part of changes to government administrative arrangements, NSW Procurement was transferred to NSW Treasury from the former Department of Finance, Services and Innovation.
At March 2019, HealthShare was responsible for managing around 1,000 contracts. This includes head agreements and individual supplier contracts.
For this audit, we reviewed one high-value whole-of-government contract for Food Services, which had an annual estimated spend of around $100 million in 2017–18, and a total estimated value of $500 million. We also selected a whole-of-health contract for Patient Transport Services, with an annual estimated spend of around $15.0 million in 2017–18, and a total estimated value of $60.0 million.
We also reviewed a single whole-of-health head agreement with separate customer contracts, vendor contract from the head agreement for Clinical IV Administration with a combined annual estimated spend by the selected LHDs of around $20.0 million in 2017–18, and a total combined estimated value of $81.0 million.
For the LHD specific contracts, we reviewed five high value contracts using the same supplier common to all six selected LHDs (Renal Dialysis Supply Price Per Treatment) with a combined annual estimated spend by the selected LHDs of around $13.4 million in 2017–18, and a total combined estimated value of $83.0 million.
All the contracts selected exceeded the $250,000 high-value threshold set by the Secretary NSW Health, requiring procurement (including contract management) to be conducted by HealthShare.
Exhibit 6 details the contracts selected for review. See Appendix three for further details about the audit.
Contract type | Contracts reviewed |
Managed by | Estimated total contract value ($million) |
Estimated annual contract value 2017–18 ($million) |
Start date |
Original expiry date |
Original duration (years) |
Optional extension (years) |
No. of suppliers |
No of KPIs |
WoG (without customer contracts) |
Food Service | HealthShare | 500 | 100 | 1/4/2018 | 31/03/2023 | 5 | -- | 17 | 4 |
WoH (without customer contracts) |
Patient Transport Service |
HealthShare | 60 | 15 | 1/8/2017 | 31/07/2021 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 8 |
WoH (with customer contracts) |
Clinical IV administration |
HealthShare/ HealthShare/ HealthShare/ HealthShare/ HealthShare/ HealthShare/ |
25 5.2 13.7 16.9 5.9 14.4 |
6.24 1.30 3.42 4.23 1.47 3.59 |
1/3/2015 | 28/2/2018 | 3 | 2 | 23 | -- |
LHD Specific |
Renal Dialysis Supply PPT |
LHD A (metro) LHD B LHD C (metro) LHD D LHD E LHD F (metro) |
15.8 7.9 20.8 12.1 11.0 15.4 |
3.16 1.13 2.97 1.72 2.21 2.19 |
1/9/2014 20/12/2016 20/12/2016 20/12/2016 1/2/2016 1/10/2015 |
31/8/2019 19/12/2023 19/12/2023 19/12/2023 31/1/2021 30/9/2022 |
5 7 7 7 5 7 |
-- -- 3 3 -- -- |
1 |
22 25 25 25 8 4 |
2. Contract management capability
2.1 Organisational capability
Effective contract management is essential for HealthShare to achieve value for money
Value for money in a goods and services contract is more than just having the specified good delivered or service carried out. The contracts that HealthShare manages are complex, with multiple potential intervention points and obligations for the supplier to meet. These obligations include:
- establishing and maintaining insurances for the contract duration
- preparing various scheduled performance reports to the contract manager
- attending scheduled meetings with the contract manager
- meeting specified quality standards and delivery deadlines
- addressing potential consequences from failure to perform against contract KPIs.
All these obligations are costed into the contract price by the supplier. If a contract manager fails to ensure these obligations are being met, then the purchaser is not getting what is being paid for, even if the goods or services are delivered as specified.
HealthShare’s Contract Management Guide states that, without rigorous contract management, 75 per cent of projected sourcing savings can disappear within 18 months after contract award. HealthShare managed contracts with around $1.8 billion of expenditure in 2018. In its 2019 annual outcomes report to the NSW Procurement Board, HAC estimate that HealthShare had negotiated approximately $53.6 million in savings in goods and services sourced in 2018–19 financial year.
HealthShare is not complying with the Health Administration Corporation’s (HAC’s) obligations as an accredited agency under the NSW Procurement Board accreditation program and Ministry of Health procurement policy
As head of HAC, an accredited agency under the Accreditation Program for Goods and Services Procurement (the accreditation program), the Secretary NSW Health has authorised only the Ministry of Health and HealthShare to procure high-value (over $250,000) goods and services for NSW Health entities, including LHDs, to 'manage risk and provide wide visibility over procurement and contracts'.
We found one significant area where HealthShare is not complying with its accreditation obligations and the Ministry of Health procurement policy:
- HealthShare is not using contract management plans for over 80 per cent of the contracts it manages
Contract management plans are a key contract management tool which enables contract managers to track suppliers’ obligations, as well as its own obligations under the contract.
We found there were no contract management plans for any of the nine contracts we selected for review.
Based on discussions with senior HealthShare personnel, the development and use of contract management plans by HealthShare is a rarity. We found HealthShare had 21 contract management plans in use for the 122 active whole-of-government or whole-of-health contracts it was managing.
HealthShare advised it did not prepare contract management plans for the LHD specific contracts it sourced. This is despite its procedures requiring contract managers to start developing a contract management plan during the sourcing stage and provide a detailed template for the development of such plans.
The use of contract management plans is a consistent requirement for public service agencies in Australia. In NSW, contract management plans for high-value goods and services procurements are a mandatory requirement of the accreditation program and the Ministry of Health’s procurement policy. These requirements have been in place at least since May 2013 for the Ministry and April 2012 for the accreditation program.
The position adopted on mandatory contract management plans for high-value contracts by the NSW Procurement Board and the Ministry of Health is consistent with the Australian Government's 2019 Contract Management Guide.
We also found one significant area where HealthShare was not complying with the Ministry of Health procurement policy:
- HealthShare has transferred contract management responsibilities for some high-value contracts to Local Health Districts
For high-value LHD specific contracts, we found that HealthShare was only managing the sourcing stage of the procurement and leaving responsibility for contract management to the relevant LHD. In doing so, HealthShare has contravened the Ministry of Health procurement policy. This policy limits the sourcing and management of high-value goods and services contracts NSW Health entities to only HealthShare and the Ministry. HealthShare does not have the authority to transfer its responsibilities for managing high-value goods and services contracts to other NSW Health entities.
HAC did not report its non-compliance with the contract management requirements of its accreditation obligations to the NSW Procurement Board
As part of its accreditation obligations under the accreditation program, HAC must submit an annual certificate confirming compliance with its accreditation requirements. Its 2017–18 certificate includes an attestation by the Chief Procurement Officer and a Deputy Secretary that NSW Health has tested (and confirmed) its compliance with the NSW Procurement Board’s Procurement Policy Framework.
The certificate does not report any non-compliance despite our finding that mandatory contract management plans are not widely used.
HealthShare's systems, policies and procedures are mostly consistent with relevant frameworks, policies and guidelines. Within NSW Health, the Ministry of Health is responsible for writing, publishing, reviewing and updating cluster-wide goods and services procurement policies and procedures. This includes guidance specific for contract management. We found that the Ministry’s policies and procedures were up to date and consistent with guidance provided by:
- NSW Procurement Board Directions and policies
- the NSW Procurement Accreditation Program for Goods and Services Procurement.
The Ministry of Health procurement procedures state that HealthShare is responsible for the planning and sourcing stages for all NSW Health entities for goods and services procurements over $250,000. Entities, including LHDs however are responsible for the conduct and governance of the manage stage. This conflicts with Ministry’s procurement policy which limits responsibility for procurement (which includes contract management) of goods and services valued at over $250,000 to either HealthShare or the Ministry of Health.
NSW Health entities, including HealthShare, must comply with the Ministry’s policies and procedures. We found that HealthShare's policies are largely consistent with those set by the Ministry. As an organisation specialising in procurement, HealthShare has its own Contract Management Framework and Contract Management Guide, which provide more detailed guidance for HealthShare staff. The framework and guide list three phases of contract management and provide tools for the various actions attributed to each phase. The phases are:
- establish
- manage
- complete.
Procurement is defined in the both the NSW Government Procurement Policy Framework and the Ministry’s procurement policy as 'the process that begins with the basic make-or-buy decision and spans the whole-of-life of supplier arrangements. It includes the definition of business needs, designing and implementing arrangements, monitoring and managing performance, and reviewing outcomes to assess the effectiveness of the arrangements.'
By rarely developing and using contract management plans HealthShare did not comply with its own procedures
Despite the importance HealthShare’s own procedures place on the mandatory development and use of contract management plans for high-value goods and services contracts, as we stated earlier, more than 80 per cent of high-value whole-of-government and whole-of-health contracts HealthShare presently manages do not have a contract management plan.
HealthShare’s Contract Management Guide reinforces the important role contract management plans play.
Contract management plans contain key information regarding how a contract will be managed, including the systems and processes that will be used to ensure negotiated value for money outcomes are delivered and that both parties comply with their respective obligations. The plan also establishes a framework against which contractual performance can be managed and risks or issues are readily identified and managed.
HealthShare procedures require contract managers to start developing a contract management plan during the sourcing stage and provide a detailed template for the development of such plans. Further detail on HealthShare’s contract management plan template and contract management tools are described in Exhibit 7.
HealthShare’s contract management framework includes a template for a contract management plan which is consistent with the inclusions outlined in the Ministry’s policy. Elements include:
Other HealthShare contract management tools include:
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None of the contracts we examined complied with NSW Health policy or User Guide on use of PROcure for ongoing administration and management of contracts
The NSW Health procurement policy describes the Procurement and Contracting Lifecycle Management System (PROcure) as a workflow system used for managing procurement processes and ongoing contract management for goods and services, to provide NSW Health entities with improved understanding and guidance around all processes and compliance.
Effective use of systems like PROcure enables contract managers to readily access up to date information on the status of a contract, including any problems flagged for management. It avoids the risk that effective contract management can be reduced with changes in staff, or inadequate communication between staff or suppliers. Additionally, PROcure’s workflow capacity sets out a roadmap for contract managers to follow. This results in key steps not being missed and a consistent approach to contract management.
Since mid-2015, all HealthShare contracts greater than $150,000 must be recorded in PROcure immediately following contract award. Contract managers are responsible for recording the contract in PROcure and for the ongoing administration and management of the contract using PROcure.
The contract module of the PROcure User Guide states the contract record in PROcure is used to capture contract information and ongoing contract management. Among the several types of information listed for inclusion are documents associated with the contract, and compliance activities required to be completed for the contract. Other information includes contract details, vendor details, contract cost and times, milestones, contract management personnel, risks, and contract variations.
We examined whether the required documents were included in PROcure in the nine contracts we reviewed for this audit. We also selected ten random samples from PROcure for a variety of high value goods and services contracts where it was stated that a contract management plan had been prepared or was pending.
For the nine contracts we reviewed, while all contract details such as price, name of vendor, and duration were included in PROcure, none had any documents evidencing their ongoing contract management, such as contract management plans, copies of meeting minutes, reports submitted by suppliers or general correspondence between HealthShare, suppliers or customers.
In explaining why PROcure was not being used as required, HealthShare advised that up until January 2018, PROcure could not manage the panel arrangements that HealthShare puts in place for whole-of-health contracts. PROcure had no ability to link to head contracts into a panel, and no ability to link customer contracts to head contracts. While work was underway to upload data from panel arrangements into PROcure, further upgrades are required to make PROcure fully functional. HealthShare advised that it will complete system enhancements and migrate all contract management activity into PROcure by the end of 2020.
PROcure is being inappropriately used to indicate HealthShare is preparing contract management plans, when it is not
Preparation and approval of contract management plans sits in the compliance section of PROcure, which hold records of activities that should be completed for the contract. These compliance steps require the user to indicate they have been completed.
For the six LHD specific contracts we reviewed, five stated in PROcure that draft contract management plans had been approved, but we found no plans in the system. We were also advised by all the LHDs that they had no contract management plans for these contracts.
For the ten random samples we selected that indicated that contract management plans were completed or pending, we found that no plans were included in PROcure, nor were other documents evidencing ongoing contract management. In four of these contracts, HealthShare had not listed the contract price.
HealthShare advised us that it stores contract management documents on the HealthShare ‘shared drive’. However, HealthShare could not provide copies of the contract management plans detailed above when requested. HealthShare advised that the lack of these plans, despite being recorded in PROcure, was a combination of inadequate record keeping and an unintended consequence of the data transfer process for panel arrangements.
HealthShare’s contract management practices are limited by inadequate and inconsistent performance monitoring
HealthShare advised that it does not have the capacity to closely manage individual contract performance, and even if it did, it does not have the information to do so. It is working on solutions to deliver that information but that is some time away from completion.
HealthShare advised it uses a risk and exception-based approach to manage its contracts due to these constraints.
This mostly does not involve using contract management plans or the PROcure contract management system. HealthShare contract managers primarily rely on information it receives from contract users as well as information from suppliers either through supplier reports or through meetings.
In the HealthShare managed contracts we reviewed, we found that its contract management practices were limited by inadequate and inconsistent performance monitoring.
- For the whole-of-health contract (without customer contracts) for Patient Transport Services, we found that suppliers did not provide performance reports as and when required. The contract required monthly meetings with suppliers to discuss performance. The contract manager replaced these with bi-monthly meetings after the first six months of the contract, and with quarterly meetings in 2019 without any documented rationale. The contract manager did not take minutes of the performance meetings held with suppliers as required by HealthShare’s policy as well as government record keeping requirements.
- For the whole-of-health contract with customer contracts for Clinical IV Administration, the supplier has not provided quarterly reports on usage data, and no annual performance reports since the contract started in March 2013, as required under the contract. Additionally, the contract manager has not held annual performance meetings with the supplier in relation to this contract (or other similar contracts the supplier had with HealthShare) as required. HealthShare advised contract managers would hold meetings in response to any significant issue arising, but to-date no such meetings have been held.
This contract also listed several performance indicators for which metrics were to be agreed by the contracting parties after contract award. The contract manager did not ensure this happened. As a result, there is no framework to measure supplier performance against.
HealthShare provided examples of its response to quality issues where HealthShare referred a matter that resulted in a product recall to the Therapeutic Goods Administration. However, we found that there was no consideration of applying sanctions available under the contract on the supplier for providing faulty product. The only apparent consequence was the supplier crediting customers for payments they made for the faulty products. This approach can lead to suppliers using less stringent quality control measures, in the expectation that consequences, if any, would be minimal, thereby diluting value for money as customers. HealthShare and the Therapeutic Goods Administration expended resources in addressing the problem caused by the supplier, such as managing a state-wide product recall.
HealthShare does not always collect or validate performance data
Effective contract management relies on contract managers assessing supplier performance by collecting information to assess performance against key performance indicators. In many HealthShare managed contracts, suppliers provide performance information to demonstrate their performance. In these contracts, it is important for HealthShare to validate the information it receives from suppliers. If supplier performance does not meet the requirements of the contract, then HealthShare has not achieved value for money.
In the HealthShare initiated contracts that we reviewed, HealthShare contract managers did not always collect or validate performance data, significantly increasing the risk that poor supplier performance was not identified or managed.
We found:
- For high volume transactional contracts, such as the Clinical IV Administration contract, contract managers relied on the recipient certifying that they received goods before it paid suppliers. While this contract did not include specific KPIs, it did have contractual time requirements for delivery of goods. However, there was no measurement of performance against these requirements either by the purchasers in LHDs, or by the HealthShare operated warehouse where suppliers delivered around 80 per cent of the goods ordered under this contract (and other clinical goods contracts). The HealthShare warehouse acts as buffer for highly used goods, which reduces the risk of late deliveries from suppliers impacting on clinical activities. To manage warehouse inventory, and regulate deliveries from multiple suppliers, the warehouse developed a delivery protocol for suppliers. While the delivery periods specified were less stringent than those outlined in the contract, the protocol enabled the warehouse to avoid overcrowding and subsequent delays at its loading docks. However, we found no evidence the warehouse is monitoring and acting on breaches of the delivery protocol.
- For the Patient Transport Service contract, HealthShare prepared the KPI performance report from data entered into its computer operated dispatch system. The source of data for some of the KPIs was from suppliers’ drivers, which they entered using a mobile device. However, HealthShare contract managers did not validate this data.
A summary of HealthShare contract management practices can be found in Appendix two.
HealthShare’s system to manage performance issues for clinical goods and services contracts is limited by inconsistent use by Local Health Districts
HealthShare’s Health Quality Reporting System (HQRS) is a secure state-wide electronic system used by NSW Health entities to report quality concerns about clinical products and services. LHDs can use HQRS to send messages to HealthShare’s contract management team. The system can also inform the Therapeutic Goods Administration where appropriate.
The HealthShare initiated contracts we reviewed included reference to HQRS as the mechanism to report product quality issues, non-supply of goods and delivery delays to HealthShare. However, access to HQRS is limited to NSW Health personnel who are appropriately trained and accredited by HealthShare.
Some LHDs that we interviewed reported that they contact suppliers directly regarding performance issues, and if satisfied with the supplier’s response, do not report the incident in HQRS or any other system. This introduces the risk that because LHDs are not reporting all issues, contract managers may not be able to identify systemic problems.
HealthShare has advised that it is aware of the risk and that it is either implementing or piloting initiatives designed to enable it to capture and manage actual on-time delivery performance of vendors in a systemic way. It also advised it is implementing a new incident management system designed to enable NSW Health staff to manage incidents involving quality issues within specified timeframes.
HealthShare does not provide enough information for Local Health Districts in contract user
guides
To support customers in managing their specific contracts from whole-of-health head agreements with customer contract arrangements, HealthShare provides a user guide for each supplier. However, the user guides for the 23 suppliers under the contract we reviewed did not sufficiently cover the provisions of the contract relevant to contract users.
These provisions and others that can be exercised by customers are located in a 25 page section of a head agreement and customer contract general conditions totalling 50 pages. In our discussions with LHD personnel purchasing from this contract, they said that they relied on the user guide, and normally did not have available the full contract.
The user guide we reviewed included:
- a pricing schedule
- contact details of the supplier
- the standard and emergency delivery requirements for the Sydney metropolitan region and rural/remote NSW
- the goods return policy
- minimum order fees.
HealthShare advised that the user guide format we reviewed is typical for all its contracts.
See Exhibit 8 for additional information that HealthShare could include in contract user guides to assist customers to use the contract and manage suppliers.
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A more extensive user guide, referencing clauses such as those listed in Exhibit 8, should assist in achieving a more effective customer purchase outcome.
While the findings above are on a very limited range of contracts managed by HealthShare, they point to significant failings in HealthShare meeting its own policies and procedures. Also, there are limited arrangements in place to support LHDs in their customer contracts, and to ensure that LHDs can provide regular and meaningful reports on supplier performance issues. Without this information, HealthShare cannot assure that it is effectively managing these contracts to achieve expected savings and ensuring suppliers meet their contract obligations.
We found significant variability and deficiencies in contract management practices for the LHD specific contracts we examined
Managing long term and complex contracts requires systems, tools and staff with appropriate contract management skills to support effective contract management and achieve value for money. We found significant deficiencies and variability in contract management practices for LHD specific contracts which indicates the above environment is not in place.
Exhibit 9 lists some of the variabilities we found.
Renal dialysis is a life sustaining treatment, used for patients with kidney disease. The treatment, which LHDs can provide in health care settings or in the home, involves the use of haemodialysis machines to remove excess water and waste products from blood. In 2017–18, the renal dialysis contracts we examined had a combined annual estimated spend by six LHDs of around $13.4 million. The contracts included the supply and installation of medical equipment used for renal dialysis as well as the supply of consumable items used during treatment (such as filters, cleaning products, needles and tubes). The contract periods for Renal Dialysis contracts we reviewed ranged from five to seven years, and two of the contracts had optional extension provisions for up to three years. The number of key performance indicators (KPIs) included in the contracts ranged from six to 25. Three contracts had abatement provisions where suppliers could be penalised for failure to meet KPIs and other performance requirements. One of the contracts we reviewed, which applied to two of the selected LHDs, had 87 potential intervention points by the contract manager in the head agreement general conditions, and 31 intervention points in the specification. It also had 25 KPIs. For the renal dialysis contracts we reviewed, we found:
A summary of LHD contract management practices can be found in Appendix two. |
HealthShare provides limited guidance on how contract managers can validate performance information
HealthShare’s Contract Management Guide and associated contract management framework is the primary source of guidance for contract managers. The Guide requires, at a minimum, contract managers to draft and maintain a contract management plan for each high value contract, and the framework includes a range of tools relevant to managing performance such as:
- a contract management plan template which among other requirements states that for KPIs, there needs to be a high-level summary and how they will be managed. This includes details as to who is responsible for compiling the indicators, and how they will be reported and at what frequencies. Additionally, details need to be provided of any additional analysis, reviews or audits which will be performed to validate performance data
- a KPI performance tracker template for contract managers to track supplier performanceagainst KPIs
- contract review report template
- 'Developing and managing KPIs' procurement guideline.
However, neither the contract management plan template or the HealthShare guideline on developing and managing KPIs or the Contract Management Guide provide guidance on when and how to use the methods outlined in the contract management plan to validate performance data. The contract management plan template also covers other performance management areas such as:
- satisfaction surveys used to measure customer satisfaction
- monitoring and reporting supplier performance including when and by whom
- meetings to manage and review supplier performance, including type, frequency and attendees.
It is important for contract managers to validate performance information provided by suppliers to ensure that government agencies are achieving value for money. While we found that HealthShare lists a range of approaches to validate performance information provided by suppliers in the contract management plan template, it does not apply a structured approach, such as a methodology or framework, to align validation strategy with risk.
A risk-based framework would assist staff involved in procurement and contract management to develop effective and efficient validation strategies.
HealthShare staff can access support and guidance
The Ministry of Health and HealthShare publish all their specific procurement policies and procedures on their respective intranets, which are available to all HealthShare and other NSW Health entities, including LHD staff. The Ministry emails HealthShare contract managers and LHD procurement teams to inform them of key updates.
HealthShare contract managers can access up-to-date departmental policies and procedures and seek support from their managers when required.
The Ministry of Health provides a half day training course titled Introduction to Contract Management. However, attendance is not mandatory for HealthShare contract managers.
2.2 Staff capability
HealthShare uses the NSW Public Service Commission's capability framework
The NSW Public Service Commission's (PSC) capability framework describes the capabilities and associated behaviours that are expected of all NSW public sector employees, at every level and in every organisation. Every role requires, at an appropriate level, all of the capabilities in the capability framework, including the Procurement and Contract Management capability.
HealthShare uses the capability framework for position descriptions for all staff.
HealthShare is currently assessing the capability of its procurement staff
NSW Procurement, in consultation with the NSW Public Service Commission (PSC), has developed a program called the Procurement Capability Compass. The Compass program is a Whole-of-Government procurement capability assessment tool that is aligned with the PSC’s capability framework. The Compass program is designed to measure the baseline of procurement knowledge across a team by helping individual staff identify their strengths and development areas.
HealthShare is using the Compass program to assess the procurement capability of its staff annually, starting in 2019. As part of the Accreditation scheme, HealthShare reported the aggregated results of the Compass program for 2018–19 to NSW Procurement.
Appendices
Appendix one – Response from agencies
Appendix two – Contract performance management summary
Appendix three – About the audit
Appendix four – Performance auditing
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Parliamentary Reference: Report number #328 - released 31 October 2019