Featured image by DTA.
The Digital Marketplace has reached a new milestone,
awarding 75% of AU$50million in technology contracts to small and medium sized
businesses.
The Australian Government is actively encouraging smaller
players to bid for government technology projects, through recently announced
changes that cap the value and duration of contracts, and other measures.
Assistant Minister for Digital Transformation Angus Taylor
said the Digital Marketplace was a direct way for start-ups and smaller tech
companies to pitch their ideas. 487 SMEs (businesses with less than 200
employees) are currently registered as sellers on the Marketplace.
"More than 100 small and medium-sized businesses have
shared in 75% of the Marketplace’s contracts. By comparison, SMEs picked up 30%
on Austender in 2015–16," Assistant Minister Taylor said.
"This is a real achievement and shows we’re breaking
down some of the barriers for small businesses who want to win digital work
with government."
Established in August 2016, the Marketplace has posted more
than 350 opportunities, to increase competition, deliver better procurement
outcomes, and promote innovation across government. At end February this year,
the Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) expanded
the Digital Marketplace, allowing new sellers to join and offering a greater
range of digital services to government buyers.
"I have written to all parliamentarians in the past
week about the tremendous opportunities for local technology businesses through
our improvements to IT procurement," Assistant Minister Taylor said.
The Government is targeting an additional 10% market share
of its more than AU$6 billion annual ICT spend toward SMEs.
The Digital Marketplace is now posting a monthly insights
report, detailing the total and monthly value of contracts awarded, breakdown
of top buyers, percentage of business going to SMEs and number of registered
sellers on the marketplace.
For more information, please visit the Digital Marketplace website.