5.2 Purchasing
The National Blood Authority adheres to the principles of the Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines and Best Practice Guidance when undertaking procurement. These guidelines are applied to the National Blood Authority's activities through the Chief Executive's Instructions and procedural rules, management instructions and key business processes.
To procure blood and blood-related products, the National Blood Authority developed key business processes to ensure that procurements were documented and followed agreed procedures. The National Blood Authority's internal auditor completed a number of audits to test processes and ensure they met legislative requirements, government policies and best practice. The audit findings were favourable in connection with compliance with mandatory processes and offered some opportunities for improvement, which will be implemented in the future. The key business processes are reviewed and refined as part of continuous improvement in the management of core business functions.
The National Blood Authority completed a number of open source procurements in 2006–07 in line with the annual procurement plan. The key procurements were:
- the information communication technology infrastructure refresh
- the diagnostic reagents standing offer
- the independent business study on Australian Red Cross Blood Service efficiency and effectiveness
- consultancies to deliver functions as specified by the National Blood Authority Act 2003, including a pilot for product tracking, a pilot to assist in clinical assessment and authorisation for product use, and preparation of an exposure Criteria for the Clinical Use of Intravenous Immunoglobulin in Australia.
The National Blood Authority outsourced travel services and subscribed to the Australian Government standard of 'best fare of the day' when procuring air travel.
The National Blood Authority did not administer any discretionary grants in 2006–07.
Exempt contracts
The Chief Executive Officer did not issue any exemptions from the required publication of any contract or standing offer in the Purchasing and Disposal Gazette in 2006–07.