Sarah Hil sdene
[FYI request #28062 email]
27 September
Dear Sarah,
OIA 24-25-11: Project Propel and IGF
Thank you for your email on 15 August 2024 to New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE),
making a request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act). You requested the following
information:
It is my understanding that the organisation undertook a project to digitise the various IGF
processes etc, known as Project Propel. It is widely known that this project is either in trouble or
has failed.
Please supply the approved business case, and associated RFP evaluation & decision
information in respect to the project (vendor and staff names should be redacted). Please
supply all anonymous commentary from your recent employee engagement survey in relation
to this project and its impact.
In a time of restraint, what was the return on investment (ROI) for this project? If this is
including within the business case, then great.
Answers to your questions are as follows.
Propel is the name of NZTE’s International Growth Fund (IGF) platform. Project Propel refers to
the project that created and launched the platform.
The Propel platform is the outcome of a project to deliver a technology solution to improve and
support the IGF.
Propel has gone live, however implementation is not yet complete. This is important when
considering the targets of Propel in the Benefits section of the Business Case. Feedback from
NZTE’s Engagement Survey (referred to in point 2 below) noted some challenges about the go-
live of the system. It is not unusual for there to be teething issues when a new technology
platform is released as people get familiar with using it. NZTE expects that continued resources
and system enhancements wil improve this sentiment over time. The system is meeting its cost
benefit target and has exceeded its claims payment targets, with 98% of claims being
processed with 10 working days (target of 90% within 20). Please note the dates of the targets
were also pushed out, due to a delay in the go-live date from March to April.
1. The approved business case is attached as Appendix One. Please note that the ROI for
this project is included in the business case.
T: +64 4 816 8100
F: +64 4 816 8101
W: nzte.govt.nz
W: newzealand.com/business
Level 15, The Majestic Centre, 100 Wil is Street, Wellington 6011, New Zealand, PO Box 2878, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
Associated RPF evaluation and decision making documents in relation to Project Propel
are refused under
:
• 9(2)(ba)(ii): vendor pricing structures, internal processes and strategies are
commercial y sensitive.
• 9(2)(g)(i): free and frank opinions were expressed in evaluating the successful
vendor. The opinions are sensitive because they are finance related and material
that, if disclosed, would inhibit the future generation of free and frank opinions
necessary for the effective conduct of public affairs.
• s9(2)(j): Disclosure of this information would breach obligations of confidentiality to
the successful vendor and provide information on NZTE’s negotiation processes
that could prejudice future such negotiations. The greater public interest is ensuring
that government agencies can continue to negotiate without prejudice.
A summary of NZTE’s process to choose its vendor for Project Propel is outlined below:
• NZTE follows an industry standard process whenever we undertake any RFP, and
the process for Propel was no dif erent.
• The RFP was made available to the public via the Government Electronic Tender
Service (GETS).
• Deadlines were provided for questions from suppliers and receipt of proposals.
Following this, three suppliers were shortlisted by a panel evaluating the proposals
against the criteria advised in the RFP i.e., proposed solution's fit for purpose
(50%), capability and capacity of supplier to deliver (30%) and price including
broader outcomes (20%).
• These shortlisted suppliers were invited to present a demonstration to NZTE.
• Scores were assigned by demonstration attendees, using weightings advised to the
shortlisted providers of configuration (25%), creating an application (25%), creating
a claim (20%), usability (10%), answers to questions (5%), and competency/
credibility/ alignment to NZTE (10%).
• These scores were consolidated, and a final due diligence process was undertaken
to identify a preferred supplier. Following this, a contract was negotiated and
agreed upon with NZTE’s chosen vendor, Tactiv. This process was undertaken
from October 2022 through to June 2023.
2. NZTE’s Engagement Survey is a confidential survey that runs annually for all NZTE
people. Specific commentary from NZTE's Engagement Survey in relation to Project Propel
is withheld under the following sections of the Official Information Act, however a summary
of this commentary is provided below:
• s9(2)(a): to protect the privacy of natural persons where personal comments may
be identifiable.
• s9(2)(ba) to protect information which is subject to an obligation of confidence
where the making available of the information
i. (i) would be likely to prejudice the supply of similar information, or
information from the same source, and it is in the public interest that such
information should continue to be supplied.
Summary of the NZTE Engagement survey commentary associated with Propel:
• 2% of all comments from the NZTE Engagement survey mention ‘Propel’.
o 1% of these comments were against the question "Most of the systems and
processes here support us getting our work done effectively." This question
received an overall favourable score of 68% with 30% of all comments
related to Propel.
You have the right under section 28(3) of the Act to seek an investigation and review by the
Ombudsman. Information about how to make a complaint is available at:
www.ombudsman.parliament.govt.nz or freephone: 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
Melissa Trochon
Director – Board & Ministerial
