Digital print suppliers must obey Fed Gov rules

First whole-of-Government panels for managed print services, equipment and support include major industry players.

Canon, CSG Enterprise Print Services, Konica Minolta, and Ricoh were chosen as MPS panellists out of some 25 tenders to provide MOMs services on a ‘per impression’ fee basis to meet Govt agency’s operational needs.

Covering both panels are Ricoh and Konica Minolta, who secured the three-year contract agreements with two one-year extension options. Other panellists for equipment and support include Fuji Xerox, Kyocera Mita, Lexmark International and Sharp.

Anne Phibbs (pictured), national manager of Government accounts at Konica Minolta says as it is on both panels it can “talk to all of the federal government departments and agencies, and no matter what direction they want to take we will be able to assist them, through either a standard procurement acquisition or if they want to move into a MPS environment.”

Konica Minolta’s MPS program will provide a tailored total solution to each Government agency managing print requirements, simplifying reporting, saving costs and reducing administration.

Philip Henry, general manager of marketing at Ricoh Australia says the fact that it was chosen goes with “our credentials in this space, and we are happy to be one of the two companies involved on both panels.”

New Zealand has already implemented an all-of-Government contract for single and multi-function print devices with Canon, Fuji Xerox, Konica Minolta, HP and Ricoh.

Craig Manson, director of business imaging at Canon Australia says the first Federal Government MPS panel is a great opportunity for government organisations to focus on “the cost-reduction and fleet consolidation benefits associated with MPS and then go to the next level with increased productivity, heightened security and reduced environmental impact gained from a Managed Document Service.”

The MOMs panels are mandatory for agencies subject to the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997, which will transition to the new arrangements.

According to a spokesperson from the Department of Finance and Deregulation, the panellists appointed on 20 June 2011 were evaluated as offering the best value for money for the Commonwealth following a detailed evaluation of their offerings in accordance with the evaluation criteria outlined in the RFT. “Technical, commercial, environment and pricing considerations were taken into account, in accordance with the evaluation criteria.”