Provision of Azure and Integration Support to DHS Screening Unit by DWS

About

Department of Human Services (DHS) awarded a contract to DWS for subject matter expertise and ongoing ICT contractor support to the Screening Unit Systems Team.

The contract provided part-time (approximately 30 hours per week) services over a 34-month term at an estimated cost of $805,000 (GST Inclusive) to support the Screening Transformation program and to maintain and enhance critical integrations.

The Screening Unit provided background screening services to government and non-government organisations, processing approximately 200,000 applications per year and monitoring in excess of 700,000 clearances continuously.

The contractors were responsible for Microsoft Azure functionality that supported integrations between the Salesforce (SAMS) system and multiple Commonwealth and State systems, and for work on the Screening Registration Database.

The role required high-level Azure technology skills and an in-depth understanding of the specific integrations, solution design and business rules within the complex Screening Unit environment, including dependencies on essential Commonwealth systems such as the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.

Contract accountabilities included maintaining custom-built applications and services, ensuring availability, reliability and efficiency of IT systems, providing technical support to Screening Unit stakeholders, working with Business Improvement & Technology to maintain, design and provision Azure services, and training resources.