Purpose:

Austroads seeks responses from appropriately experienced service providers to review the processes of the development and maintenance of Austroads Technical Specifications and make detailed and easily followed recommendations to ensure the sustainability, use, utility and functionality of the Austroads Technical Specifications (ATSs).

Objective:

The objective of this project is to prepare and report and transition a plan for Austroads that ensures the sustainability, utility and functionality of the Austroads Technical Specifications.

The report shall make recommendations and provide a clearly followed plan for implementation to ensure:

• the Austroads Technical Specifications are developed, maintained (including incorporating changes required as a result of feedback from use) in a way that gives transport member agency confidence to rely on continued use of ATSs,

• appropriate document and knowledge management systems exist and are used,

• there is appropriate member oversight, engagement and change management processes to encourage adoption and use,

• appropriate industry liaison,

• appropriate staffing and resourcing,

• that there is a fair and reasonable price paid by non-government users so that there is transparent full cost recovery,

• other key items identified by the consultant to ensure the sustainability, utility and functionality of the ATSs are considered.

The report will be used by Austroads management to make changes to ensure the sustainability, utility and functionality of the Austroads Technical Specifications.

Some consideration should be given to a complementarity and suitability of systems and processes used to maintain the ATSs to, potentially, also support maintenance of other Austroads products, such as Austroads Guides, guidelines, test methods and software tools.

Scope:

The scope will cover the development, maintenance and management of ATSs as well as issues related to the adoption and implementation by each member agency.

Deliverables:

This project will produce the following deliverables:

• An interim report on at the mid-point of the project to provide information and seek feedback from the Austroads executive and the Austroads Technical Advisory Group, which will include all elements as outlined in the objectives,

• A draft final report for review by the Austroads executive and the Austroads Technical Advisory Group that includes all elements as outlined in the objectives and a concise implementation plan, A final report to the Austroads executive that that includes all elements as outlined in the objectives and a concise implementation plan as well as a Data Management Plan, and project data with populated metadata spreadsheet.

• A PowerPoint presentation for the General Manager Research, Guidance and Practice (GM) to present to the Austroads Board.

Also included as part of this tender are the following documents:

• Writing & Format Requirements for Austroads Publications which sets out the writing and formatting standards for research, technical and internal reports.

• Master Services Agreement outlining our Terms and Conditions. Please note that our Terms and Conditions are not negotiable.