House of Assembly Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3) 51 3 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Answers to Questions Auditor-General's Report AUDITOR-GENERAL'S REPORT Dr McFETRIDGE House of Assembly Morphett AUDITOR-GENERAL'S REPORT 408 Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (2 December 2008). With respect to the Report of the Auditor-General 2007-08—part A, Audit Overview, page 17—what is the current status of the SMS project in relation to the Department of Science and Technology? The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN House of Assembly Napier Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education Minister for Road Safety Minister for Science and Information Economy AUDITOR-GENERAL'S REPORT The Hon. M.F. O'BRIEN (Napier—Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Science and Information Economy): After a thorough two step procurement process incorporating an Open Market Expression of Interest and a Selective Request for Proposal, two suitable Vendors were shortlisted to provide a student management system solution. A preferred Vendor decision was made in November 2008. Due to probity requirements the name cannot be revealed until a contract is signed. Since the preferred Vendor decision the Department for Further Education, Employment Science and Technology has engaged the preferred Vendor in contract negotiations under the guidance and advice of the Crown Solicitors Office. Negotiations concluded on 18/5/2009 and subject to some formalities I expect to be able to sign the contract in early June 2009. It is expected that implementing the Student Information System Implementation (SIS) will be a three year undertaking once the vendor is secured.