Cloud and AI Support Services

⁠⁠⁠Requirements

The Department seeks to engage suppliers to provide cloud and AI support services across its multi-cloud environment, including Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services (AWS). Suppliers will deliver engineering, automation, architecture, and delivery management capabilities to support both project-based initiatives and ongoing operational sustainment. Services will align with the Department’s cloud-first approach and support a secure, scalable, and resilient cloud operating model that integrates with existing identity, networking, governance, and compliance frameworks.

Suppliers will provide personnel for the design, build, deployment, and optimisation of cloud and AI infrastructure and platform services using modern engineering practices. This includes the development of infrastructure as code, DevOps pipelines, and reusable automation patterns to enable consistent and repeatable deployments across environments. Suppliers will also provide personnel to support integration of cloud services with enterprise platforms, implement security and monitoring controls, and contribute to ongoing platform enhancements to improve reliability, performance, and maintainability.

A key focus of the engagement will be the delivery of cloud automation processes to improve efficiency, scalability, and operational effectiveness. Suppliers will provide personnel to design and implement automation capabilities that support self-service provisioning, streamlined deployment pipelines, and data-driven decision making. This includes the development of reusable cloud templates, automation frameworks, and capability uplift to support an “automation-first” approach and ongoing continuous improvement of cloud services.

Suppliers will provide personnel to integrate with the department's multidisciplinary teams, including cloud solution engineers, cloud automation engineers, cloud solution architects, business analysts, and project management/delivery roles. These roles will work collaboratively with internal stakeholders to define requirements, prioritise work, manage delivery risks and dependencies, and ensure alignment with governance and reporting processes. Suppliers will also provide personnel to support coordination across multiple workstreams, ensuring consistent delivery and effective engagement across technical teams, business areas, and vendors.

The expected outputs of this engagement include the delivery of operational cloud platform capabilities, enhanced automation maturity, and improved service management outcomes. This will comprise production-ready cloud environments, standardised platform patterns and blueprints, improved monitoring and reporting capabilities, and effective transition into ongoing support arrangements. Additional outputs may include optimisation of cloud cost management (FinOps), uplift in security and compliance posture, and improved service performance through defined service levels, metrics, and reporting frameworks across the cloud environment.