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Management of information technology

The Customs Information Services Agreement between Customs and EDS Australia (EDSA) entered its fourth year. The contract, signed in 1998, covers information technology (IT) and related services and is for five years, with a possible extension to nine years. The services covered contribute to all outputs and the Customs outcome.

Key activities during 2000-01 included:

• ensuring that systems availability targets were met
• providing project and applications development support to business owners
• managing change and facilitating access to quality IT services.

EDSA has generally met specified service standards for infrastructure support and maintenance of business applications. However, EDSA has had difficulty in providing sufficiently skilled IT staff to build and deliver new applications by the due date.

Infrastructure changes

The Bruce Computer Centre was sold and EDSA is relocating the Customs mainframe and midrange IT infrastructure to the EDSA Data Centre at Burwood, NSW.

A replacement for the Unisys mainframe environment was investigated and an IBM mainframe system selected. The migration process was expected to occur over the next two years.

Customs and EDSA planned the installation of new desktop equipment and a new standard operating environment for all Customs staff. This was expected to be completed by October 2001.

Applications development

The Tariff and Precedents Information Network was implemented successfully and Automotive Competitiveness and Investment Scheme was delivered by 1 April 2001.

Customs and EDSA made changes to a number of applications including Passenger Analysis Clearance and Evaluation System, the commercial systems for tax reform and the National Intelligence System. The Human Resource Information System had a version upgrade.

The development of the Coastwatch Command and Support System and the redevelopment of the Tourist Refund Scheme were both subjected to tender. Customs continued to provide human resources and financial systems services to the National Crime Authority and excise processing systems, services and support to the Australian Taxation Office.

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