Fed Govt looks to lift transport and cargo supply chain security

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government is on the hunt for a business processes management solution to help it better manage air cargo and transport security.

The new IT system will underpin the implementation of the Accredited Air Cargo Agent (AACA) scheme, which seeks to fill a critical gap in the department’s control of supply chain security, according to tender documents.

“In early 2008 the Department commissioned a study into options for the delivery of the AACA scheme,” the documents read. “One of the key recommendations was that the accreditation and management of AACAs be conducted with industry online via a web-based interface.”

The online system, expected to go live in mid November, will be expected to regulate about 10,000 businesses across the country.

It will also manage and administer AACA applications, perform verification functions, allow correspondence, enable AACAs to complete on-line training, perform audit and compliance functions and generate reports.

In addition to facilitating the implementation of the AACA scheme, the new system will allow for business improvements and cost savings at the Office of Transport Security (OTS).

The project’s initial contract period ends on 30 June 2011 with two option periods of two years each. The department will migrate data from existing systems and integrate information held within multiple systems such as Microsoft Sharepoint 2007, WebEOC, SQL and Access databases.