Frequently asked questions
What is the role of the Print Management Unit?
The QGCPO’s Print Management Unit (PMU) will act as the conduit between government agencies and the printing industry.
The PMU will receive all print requests from agencies and invite bids on each print job via the Print Management System. The agency will be advised of the preferred supplier. Following approval from the agency, the printer will be supplied with an order.
Can I still use the printer I've always used because they've looked after us?
All suppliers must apply for accreditation to be considered a print supplier to the Queensland Government. The QGCPO’s Print Management Unit will manage the accreditation process.
Your current supplier may well pass the accreditation process, and as a result will have an opportunity to continue to produce work for all government agencies through the Print Management Solution.
What's involved in the accreditation process?
The QGCPO’s Print Management Unit will engage a “print manager” from the private sector to provide a sophisticated Print Management System.
Part of the system is a supplier-accreditation process that measures a variety of key criteria, which will be determined in conjunction with the external print manager, to ensure government is achieving the best standards at the greatest value for money.
Do I have to use the Print Management Solution, or can I continue to deal directly with my current printer?
Cabinet has mandated the use of the Print Management Solution across government for all budget-sector agencies. The QGCPO’s Print Management Unit is charged with rolling out the solution across government. There are a number of tasks to undertake within this complex project, and an agency rollout schedule is yet to be finalised.
Will existing arrangements with private-sector printers be terminated by the QGCPO’s Print Management Unit?
The QGCPO’s Print Management Unit (PMU) will be assessing all existing arrangements across government on an agency by agency basis. Until you have been contacted by the PMU you should continue to use existing arrangements.
It is crucial that the PMU has a clear understanding of the current arrangements with printers for each agency. This information should be provided to the PMU by the nominated agency contact, as provided by the Director-General of your agency.
My agency has dedicated print coordinators. Where do they fit in?
The QGCPO’s Print Management Unit recognises that there are many experienced and capable print coordinators within agencies.
These people will be provided with extensive training in the use of the Print Management System so that their valuable skills and experience are kept current and reflect whole-of-government policy and practice changes.
How will I know that the Print Management Solution has saved my agency money?
An important part of the Print Management Unit’s (PMU) work is to measure and report on benefits. To do so, the PMU will need to establish a clear understanding of the current spend on print by agencies in order to establish a baseline against which to measure changes in spend patterns and per-unit print costs.
The team will work with agencies over the coming months to quantify print spend, and once the solution is rolled out, transparent reporting on print spend, costs and savings will be provided.
Will agencies have to pay for the use of the Print Management System?
There will be costs associated with the establishment of the Print Management Solution (PMS) and the associated system, which will be recovered through some form of user charging. The cost of the PMS is offset by significant net savings, estimated at approximately $14 million per annum, to be delivered to agencies.
The system costs from the external print manager will be applied to the winning bid based on an overall percentage and passed on to the agency.
Will agencies be involved in the consultation process?
The QGCPO’s Print Management Unit will conduct extensive consultation with agencies. A user reference group known as the Queensland Government Print Management Council will be formed and will meet regularly to discuss progress and exchange ideas for ongoing improvement opportunities to the Print Management Solution .
Last updated May 2009
