The Australian Government Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities contract with the current Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) expires on 12 September 2012.
The department has posted a request for tender seeking a suitably qualified service provider to provide the refrigeration/air conditioning (RAC) permit scheme and the management of the compliance program associated with the proper handling and trade in fluorocarbon refrigerants under the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989 and the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Regulations 1995.
The Regulations put into place the national end-use licensing scheme for members of the RAC industry who handle, store, dispose of or possess fluorocarbon refrigerant. The end-use regulations currently affect approximately 60,000 individuals and 20,000 businesses. It is currently administered by the ARC.
Tenders were to be forwarded to the department by the 23rd of February 2012. the contract is expected to begin on the 12th September 2012. The contract is set for an initial period of four years with the possibility of extension for an additional three years.
The successful service provider essential duties include:
- A RAC Industry Board to administer the RAC permit scheme under the Regulations receive applications and application fees for RAC industry permits
- Process applications within the 30 days allowed under the Regulations
- Issue RAC industry permits in accordance with the Regulations
- Conduct a program of compliance audits for holders of registered trading authorities (RTA)
- Provide customer service support to members of the RAC industry and the general public
- Provide a program of communications and awareness activities aimed at encouraging compliance with the licensing scheme.
The compliance audit program must cover a minimum of 20 per cent of all RTA holders each financial year, with an optimal audit rate of 30 per cent of all authorised companies in a year; and at least 70 per cent of all compliance audits must entail an onsite visit.
The remaining compliance audits may consist of a combination of desktop reviews and drive-by audits.
At the completion of the services, 70 per cent of all RTA holders must have been audited.
Educational compliance measures include actions to increase awareness and encourage compliance with the Regulations, for example the use of educational material.
The service provider will ensure that all persons delivering the services are appropriately skilled and experienced in providing/developing training or administering a permit scheme, working under either State or Commonwealth legislation, or have a demonstrated understanding of the legislation that underpins the licensing and authorisation scheme. At least one member of its personnel must have an understanding of trade qualifications and Australian skills training qualification system.
Personnel of the new service provider must also include people with proper security, privacy and accounting training