Plans by NSW to reform data centres back to square one after tender request delay

PLANS by NSW to shrink number of data centres from 130 to two hubs have hit a snag, causing a reform reset.

Microsoft's Redmond Ridge data centre / Supplied

NSW has hit the reset button on its data centre reform plan, which aims to consolidate 130 facilities into two environmentally friendly hubs by March next year.

To meet that deadline, a shortlist of suppliers and request for tender should have been released by March this year, reports The Australian.

It is now unclear whether the project will eventuate after officials went back to the drawing board, tossing aside the original business case approved by cabinet last year.

The Australian has reported that five players had been shortlisted. The government has repeatedly denied such a list exists, although internal documents show otherwise.

And after several delays -- mostly due to internal government machinations -- the process has gone back to square one.

According to Treasury deputy secretary Stephen Brady, another business case was being formulated for the data centre consolidation project.

"(The project) is currently undergoing a business case," Mr Brady told The Australian at last week's state budget lock-up.

Once the business case was completed, it would be handed in for cabinet approval, said Paul Dexter, NSW Department of Services, Technology and Administration chief financial officer.

Read more at The Australian