Aboriginal Heritage and Archaeological Support Services Panel Arrangement

1. 1. Background

An Aboriginal Heritage and Archaeological Support Services Panel is required to support the planning and delivery of various Projects with in the Major Project Unit (MPU). It is essential that Public Transport Authority (PTA) obtains the best available service providers to help with providing these services including but not limited to archaeological, ethnographic surveys and heritage services on high risk highly complex and high value Projects.

A selection of Aboriginal Heritage and Archaeological Support Services Consultants with suitable qualifications, experience and knowledge are required to be available to the PTA and as such Major Projects Unit (MPU requires engagement of these personnel on a Panel Contract.

Due to the varied demands of the different projects to be undertaken by MPU over the next five(5) to ten (10) years, it is necessary that a ‘pool’ of available contractors is established to enable effective and expedient engagement of services to meet project needs.

The MPU work program derives from projects that are planned and costed by the Infrastructure Planning and Land Services (IPLS) Division or the METRONET Planning Team. A level of interface between MPU, IPLS and METRONET Planning on projects is necessary to effectively manage the transfer of projects from the planning to delivery phases.

The current major projects for which Aboriginal Heritage and Archaeological Support Services may be required include but are not limited to:

Projects under Construction phase:

• Forrestfield-Airport Link Project (FAL);
• Radio Systems Replacement Project (RSR);
• Thornlie Cockburn Link Project (TCL);
• Yanchep Rail Extension Project (YRE);
• Level Crossing Removal – Denny Ave Project (LXR-DAV);
• Kenwick Facility; and
• Other Major Projects, as may be advised.

Projects under Planning phase:

• Bayswater Station Upgrade Project;
• Morley to Ellenbrook Line;
• Extension of the Armadale Line to Byford;
• Bayswater Station Upgrade;
• New Station Karnup;
• New Station Midland;
• Extension of Midland Line to Bellevue; and
• Grade Separation Program.

1. 1. Scope of Services (Refer to Book 3 – Schedule 8)

The PTA requires the services of experienced and suitably qualified Aboriginal Heritage and Archaeological Support Services Consultants to assist the PTA with ensuring compliance with the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 (“the Act”) and the PTA’s Noongar Standard Heritage Agreements with the Whadjuk and Gnaala Karla Booja People.

Specific services that may be required by the PTA projects include but are not limited to the following:

• Engagement in Aboriginal Stakeholder briefings including liaising with attendees to advise briefing times and location; facilitating the briefings, payment to the Noongar attendees, minute taking, provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for any site visits and provision of a detailed report of the meeting;
• Engagement of Aboriginal Monitors including all project management, payment to Monitors (with no mark-up) and provision of PPE to monitors - the rate of payment to the Monitors will be agreed between the PTA and the Consultant prior to meetings or engagement;
• Preparation of desktop Aboriginal heritage review reports;
• Provision of archaeological surveys and reports;
• Coordination of ethnographic surveys and reporting;
• Coordination of Aboriginal monitoring programs and reporting;
• Professional advice regarding compliance to the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972, heritage matters and Stakeholder management;
• Nomination of an “on call” Archaeologist to identify bones (unexpected finds) and artefacts; and
• Nomination of an “on call” Anthropologist.
  1. Panel Information

The Tenderer may offer a combination of both internal resources and external resources (subcontractors or JV partners) at its discretion. There is no preference towards the Tenderer offering Engineers covering a range of Project Disciplines / Subject Matter Areas as all proposed Engineers will be evaluated individually based on their capacity, capability and experience as they relate to the specified Subject Matter Area.

It is important to note that the contractual arrangement formed between the successful Tenderer(s) and PTA will be with the Tenderer directly as opposed to nominated personnel. PTA will seek Requests for Quotation, under the subsequent Panel contract, nominating those particular personnel noted in the Tender Assessment Matrix.

Where a Tender represents more than one commercial entity the submission must identify the single commercial entity which is submitting the Tender and with whom PTA would enter into contract if successful. Additionally, the Tenderer must clearly show within its Tender submission, the primary point of contact for the contract and the party ultimately responsible for service delivery.

The PTA will review the Panel framework and composition annually or at other times determined appropriate by PTA in order to assess whether additional services, Subject Matter Areas and /or Engineers are required to satisfy the service requirements of the PTA. The PTA reserves the right to add Engineers to the Panel at its discretion at any time during the term of the Panel, through a public tendering process.

The PTA reserves the right at its absolute discretion to source services outside this Panel arrangement if so determined by the PTA.

1. 1. 1. Panel Utilisation:

This Panel is being established to assist and meet the multi-disciplinary procurement needs of the Major Projects Unit primarily for METRONET projects, however, this Panel contract does not preclude other Divisions obtaining services under this Panel arrangement.

1. 1. 1. Panel Structure:

A Panel Contract Manager will be appointed who will be the PTA person ultimately responsible for the day-to-day management of the panel processes, project engagement and other general panel related matters. Panel members will be required to appoint a Contract Relationship Manager.

1. 1. 1. Term of the Panel:

The Panel will be in operation for an initial three (3) year term. The PTA may at its option extend the operation of the Panel and appointments to the panels for periods such that the total aggregated duration of the panel arrangement does not exceed five (5) years.

1. 1. 1. Buying Rules:

The Panel is designed to streamline obtaining of Aboriginal Heritage and Archaeological Support Services, provide value and increased supply certainty to both the PTA and panel members. The Tenderer should consider how they may best structure its service offering to respond to these rules: