When and how to apply the criterion
When to apply
Apply Criterion 8 during Discovery and Alpha to deliver a modern, high-quality services.
Consider this criterion throughout the Service Design and Delivery Process to keep the service at pace with changing user expectations.
How to apply
Questions for consideration:
- how does a new technology benefit your service?
- how will you validate a new technology is interoperable with services?
- what can you learn from other agencies’ experiences?
- what are the ongoing requirements of supporting a new technology?
Guidance for agencies and independent assurers
Assessing delivery confidence of digital projects
Guidance for agencies and independent assurers
Assessing delivery confidence of digital projects
In partnership with the University of Sydney’s John Grill Institute for Project Leadership, new guidance has been prepared to support more effective assurance of digital projects.
An independent strategic review of the whole of Australian Government single seller arrangements
Chapter 2: Alignment to policy, strategies and legislation
An assessment of whether the single seller arrangements (SSAs) align to the rules and support government’s intended direction.
Chapter overview
The review found the SSA model aligns with key related policies and strategies, with opportunities to further evolve how these are applied in practice. Given the ever-evolving policy landscape, it is important to consider SSA alignment as an ongoing activity to ensure they are kept up to date as new policies are introduced or changed.
The alignment of the SSAs to existing and emerging policy, strategies and key legislation was considered across four key policy dimensions: procurement and contracts, cyber and security, digital and investment, and the broader ecosystem.
Description of Figure 11
The image is structured into four color-coded sections, each with a heading and a list of policy-related bullet points:
Procurement and contracts (top left section)
- Commonwealth Procurement Rules
- Commonwealth Australian Industry Participation Plan Policy
- Australian Skills Guarantee Procurement Connected Policy
- Environmentally Sustainable Procurement Policy
- Indigenous Procurement Policy
- Workplace Gender Equality Procurement Principles
- Shadow Economy – increasing the integrity of government procurement
- Contracts Limits and Reviews Policy
- Resource Management Guides
Cyber and security (top right section)
- Protective Security Policy Framework
- Information Security Manual
- Secure Cloud Strategy
- Hosting Certification Framework
- 2023–2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy
- The Privacy Act 1988
- Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018
- Cyber Security Act 2024
Digital and investment (bottom left section)
- Data and Digital Government Strategy
- Digital and ICT Reuse Policy
- Digital Service Standards
- Using AI in the Australian Government
- Digital and ICT Investment Oversight Framework
- Benefits Management Policy
- List of Critical Technologies in the National Interest
- Data, digital, and cyber workforce plan
Broader ecosystem (bottom right section)
- Buy Australia Plan
- APS Net Zero Emissions by 2030
- APS Reform Agenda
- Competition and Consumer Act 2010
- Corporations Act 2001
In particular, the review identified the following improvement opportunities:
- Further value can be obtained in existing policies by negotiating adoption expectations in the head agreement, rather than devolving this responsibility to the buyer’s contract (e.g. CAIP Plans).
- Consider how to mitigate unintended market consequences in the existing Contract Limits and Review Policy to address unintended market outcomes.
- Define data and digital sovereignty with consideration of localisation requirements, and assess the technology landscape to identify technology necessitating stronger cyber and security requirements.
- Distinguish more clearly whole of Australian Government digital contracts from Coordinated Procurements within the Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPRs).
Follow guidance on critical and emerging technologies
Stay current: Technology can advance at a staggering pace. If available, refer to government guidance on risks, opportunities and developments for up-to-date advice on critical or emerging technology that may impact your service.
Regularly check the Australian Government Architecture: Follow published guidance in the Australian Government Architecture for the adoption of critical and emerging technologies.
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