During 2018–19 the ARC entered into 155 consultancy contracts involving total actual expenditure of $1.597 million (inclusive of Goods and Services Tax [GST]). In addition, 301 ongoing consultancy contracts were active during the period, involving total actual expenditure of $3.672 million (inclusive of GST).
A summary of the ARC's engagements with consultants for 2018–19 is provided in Table 23.
Notes: The contract numbers are as per what has been reported in AusTender. The number of ongoing contracts is those that were entered into during the 2017–18 period. The expenditure on ongoing contracts represents the total expenditure in 2018–19 less the expenditure relating to new contracts.
Annual Reports contain information about actual expenditure on contracts for consultancies. Information on the value of contracts and consultancies is available on the AusTender website, www.tenders.gov.au.
Policy on selection and engagement
The ARC's policy on selecting and engaging consultants is set out in the ARC Chief Executive Instructions and in related procurement instructions and guidance material.
The ARC engages consultants primarily for independent research or assessment, or where specialist skill or expertise is required. Consultants are engaged through a merit selection or procurement process. The majority of the ARC's consultancy expenditure relates to the engagement of independent members for selection and evaluation committees.
Consultancy services are distinguished from other contracts for services by the nature of the work performed, which typically involves the development of an intellectual output that assists with agency decision-making and reflects the independent views of the service provider.