The Auditor General of Québec issues the conclusions of her special audit concerning the information technology contracts - Press Release no. 5

QUÉBEC, Nov. 27, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Today, Ms. Guylaine Leclerc makes public the conclusions of her special audit entitled Information Technology Contracts.

Deficiencies regarding the key steps of the contract management process mean that the risks related to the integrity of the process are not adequately managed. These deficiencies are prevalent in the 8 audited entities and affect the vast majority of the 27 examined contracts.

The audited entities have not taken all the measures necessary to ensure that the people involved in determining needs and preparing calls for tenders are independent and impartial. They did not designate people in charge of these tasks, and there is a lack of documentation with regard to the decisions made at these critical steps of the process, which does not encourage the accountability of these people.

Of the 27 audited contracts, there are 19 that are exclusively at daily rates and 5 that are mainly at daily rates. This type of contract results in suppliers assuming only a small part of the risks.

Deficiencies were detected in the composition and operation of the selection committee. There is still a lack of control mechanisms to ensure that the people responsible for determining needs and preparing calls for tenders are independent from those who sit on the selection committee.

Some of the terms and conditions of contracts are not complied with, which is questionable for the achievement of the principles of fairness and transparency mentioned in the Act respecting contracting by public bodies. Some work is performed by resources other than those designated in the contract, and some work unplanned in the contract is performed.

The actions taken by the Secrétariat du Conseil du trésor (SCT) in recent years need to be strengthened to orient and adequately support the departments and public bodies with regard to contract management for information technology.

The considerable use of external resources is still a reality in departments and public bodies, on a recurring basis and for a long period of time. The SCT still does not have an overall and complete portrait of the distribution of the information technology labour force. In fact, entities still frequently rely on the private sector to meet needs, including the ones for strategic activities.

The Highlights are available at www.vgq.qc.ca. The full report is available only in French.

Source:

Lucie Roy, Director Cabinet, communications et affaires stratégiques Auditor General of Québec Tel.: [phone]

SOURCE Vérificateur Général du Québec

Lucie Roy, Director, Cabinet, communications et affaires stratégiques, Auditor General of Québec, Tel.: [phone]