DVA Website content project – Procurement of services partner
Tender ID: 602226
Tender Details
Tender Description
This Tender is invited by the Issuer.
The RFQ seeks a suitably qualified supplier to partner with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) to deliver a large-scale website content transformation for dva.gov.au. The work supports an 18‑month program to rewrite approximately 900 content pages and 150 navigation pages, establish sustainable governance, and implement an AI‑first content ecosystem. The supplier will work alongside an experienced internal DVA team that already has strong capability in AI‑assisted authoring, structured content operations and trauma‑informed content design.
Project intent
The engagement aims to modernise DVA’s content environment by improving readability, removing duplication, lifting accessibility, ensuring trauma‑informed standards, and enabling reliable performance across both DVA’s new retrieval‑augmented AI search tool and external AI‑mediated search systems. The project sits within DVA’s broader digital transformation and responds to expectations arising from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
Core requirements
The supplier must help design and implement:
- An AI‑first content strategy
- A whole‑of‑department governance model
- AI‑aligned templates, structured content patterns and reusable components
- Consistent metadata, taxonomy and lifecycle processes aligned with the forthcoming Digital Asset Management System (DAMS)
- Content workflows that ensure Grade 8 readability, WCAG 2.1 AA compliance, and trauma‑informed communication
- Links and references management, including legislation
- Co‑designed rewrite processes with DVA’s internal content and AI specialists
Scope of work
The engagement is structured across four workstreams:
- Content strategy – design an audience‑centred, trauma‑informed and AI‑ready strategy, including controlled vocabulary, naming standards and consolidation planning.
- Content governance – co‑design a durable governance framework, roles, pathways, lifecycle processes, metadata standards and audit‑ready artefacts.
- Content production – define templates, support rewrite cycles, ensure QA, readability, accessibility and semantic consistency.
- Project management – coordination, reporting, risk oversight and ongoing knowledge transfer.
Deliverables
Key deliverables include a content strategy, governance model, lifecycle procedures, metadata and taxonomy standards, editorial style guide, consolidation framework, structured templates, QA workflows, links and references management processes, governance playbook, controlled vocabulary, content model documentation, and sustainability and handover materials.
Standards and constraints
All content must meet WCAG 2.1 AA, Grade 8 reading level, plain English and trauma‑informed standards. Content must be optimised for RAG‑based search and external AI search systems. Work must comply with the Privacy Act, security protocols and Australian data sovereignty requirements.
Timeline
The project runs up to 18 months, covering initiation, strategy and governance, production, and sustainment.
Success measures
Success is defined by both content quality and the establishment of a sustainable AI‑ready ecosystem. Measures include Digital Service Standard alignment, reduced duplication, use of structured patterns, improved AI search accuracy, governance maturity, uplifted internal capability, reduced cognitive load, improved user comprehension and reliable DAMS‑aligned workflows.
Supplier response requirements
Suppliers must provide case studies demonstrating large‑scale government content transformation, AI‑aligned workflow capability, DAMS or CMS experience, trauma‑informed and accessible content design, and high‑volume rewrite experience. Responses must outline methodology, team structure, project approach, risk management, DAMS alignment, timeline and fixed‑price itemised costing.
Evaluation
Assessment focuses on capability, methodology and DAMS alignment, team expertise, governance understanding, value for money and demonstrate clear and comprehensive understanding of all aspects BuyICT Head Agreement requirements and panel terms.
Estimated start date: Monday, 19 January 2026
Initial contract duration: 18 months
Extension term: 3 months
Number of extensions: 3
Working arrangements: Remote
Location
New South Wales : Central West : Far North Coast : Far West : Hunter : Illawarra : Mid North Coast : Murray : New England : Orana : Riverina : Southern Highlands : Sydney
Queensland : Cairns & Far North Queensland : Gladstone : Mackay Whitsunday Region : Mount Isa & North West Region : Rockhampton : South East Queensland : South West & Darling Downs : The Central West : Townsville : Wide Bay Burnett
Victoria : Barwon South West : Gippsland : Grampians : Hume : Loddon Mallee : Melbourne
South Australia : Adelaide : Eyre & Western : Far North : Fleurieu & Kangaroo Island : Limestone Coast : Murray & Mallee : York & Mid North
Northern Territory : Barkly : Big Rivers : Central Australia : East Arnhem : Greater Darwin : Top End
Australian Capital Territory
Tasmania