Ndis partners in the community program

25.2Can you confirm whether the establishment plan will be required by the successful applicant rather than as part of the application process?

Clause 2.3.1 of the Statement of Requirements provides:

The Partner must deliver to the NDIA a plan for the establishment and management of the end to end capability required to deliver the NDIS Partners in the Community Services (Establishment Plan) which will provide the overarching structure for all other plans required.

The Establishment Plan is not required as part of the Application Process. However, Applicants must complete the "Establishment Funds" section in the LAC and/or ECEI Pricing Response Schedule(s) (including a description of the costs required).

25.3It was stated in the presentation to provide specific details about establishment costs, but it appears there is only 250 characters to respond to this in the Pricing Response Schedule. Is this correct and if so, is it sufficient space for the details required?

The instructions provided in the "Instructions" tab of the Pricing Response Schedule provide that the description fields under each of the elements of the Establishment Funds table (in Part 2) have a character limit of 250 characters (which includes spaces). This limit must be observed.

25.4Where can we find a map of Service Areas in Queensland? We were told there would be 13 in total. Is that correct?

Information in relation to the roll out of the full scheme in all states and territories, including maps, is available on the NDIA's website at the following address:

https://myplace.ndis.gov.au/ndisstorefront/about-us/our-sites.1.html

In particular, information for Queensland can be found at the following address:

https://myplace.ndis.gov.au/ndisstorefront/about-us/our-sites/qld.1.html

Information in relation to the roll out of the full scheme in Queensland is also available in the Bilateral Agreement between the Commonwealth and the State of Queensland for Transition to a National Disability Insurance Scheme at the following address:

https://www.coag.gov.au/node/532

There are 14 Service Areas in Queensland (as the area identified as Brisbane constitutes two Service Areas: Brisbane North and Brisbane South.

25.5Can you explain in more detail the Pricing Response Schedule and how you have planned for it to work in practice?

The Pricing Response Schedule is required to be submitted as part of each Application to deliver either LAC or ECEI Services in each Service Area. The responses provided by Applicants will be used in the assessment of that Application.

Further information on the information requested by the Pricing Response Schedule and its relationship with Annex A to the Statement of Requirements is provided in response to question 13 of this Question and Answers document.

25.6Can you advise the title of the previous webinar in relation to commissioning that the presenters referred to? What is the link to that page?

Previous webinars in relation to the NDIS are available on the NDIA's website at:

https://myplace.ndis.gov.au/ndisstorefront/people-disability/videos-and-stories/webinars.html

The ‘NDIS Update to Industry 4.15pm Monday 20 June’ Webinar offers discussion on the NDIS strategy including engaging on a community level to ensure effective service planning for participants. This webinar provided an update to the industry regarding the NDIS commissioning framework and pipeline activities.

QUESTIONS ADDED 13/9/2016

26.REGISTERED PROVIDERS OF SUPPORTS – LAC SERVICES

26.1Can you please send me a link to the business process for the revocation of an entity's approval to be a Registered Provider of Supports?

The business process for the revocation of approval to be a Registered Provider of Supports is available at: https://myplace.ndis.gov.au/ndisstorefront/providers/RPoS-Deregistration-Process.html.

See also the responses to question 12 above, and if you have any queries regarding this business process, please contact [e-mail].

26.2Can an entity continue to provide services in the interim and then, if it is appointed as a LAC Partner, apply to revoke at that time (rather than cease services, not be appointed and have to reapply again). As a local government, we only provide minimal services currently but we are a Registered Provider of Supports.

No. See responses to questions 16.2, 12.1, 12.2 and 12.3 above.

26.3Is it allowable and legal under NDIS legislation for an NDIS Registered Provider of Supports in Australia to be subcontracted by a LAC Partner (who is not a Registered Providers of Supports) to provide Local Area Coordination supports in regions of Queensland?

The eligibility criteria set out in paragraph 4.1.1.3 of the Program Guidelines provide that an Applicant (who is not a Registered Provider of Supports) may only propose to subcontract all or part of the delivery of LAC Services to a Registered Provider of Supports, if it can demonstrate to the reasonable satisfaction of the Agency that exceptional circumstances exist. In considering whether exceptional circumstances exist, the Agency will consider the:

1. 
   nature of the exceptional circumstances described by the Applicant that require subcontracting with a Registered Provider of Supports;
   
2. 
   availability of alternative providers which are not Registered Providers of Supports; and
   
3. 
   Applicant's proposed mitigation approach to manage this actual, potential or perceived conflict of interest.
   

26.4If we revoke our current small service lines as a Registered Provider of Supports do we have to have the Participants transitioned to an alternate provider by 22 September? If not, when do they need to be transitioned by? We note that to revoke, the newly released guidelines for this indicate the need for a month’s transition, how does this impact our ability to apply for LAC. In other words if we revoke today will we still be technically registered on 22 September? And will the application be accepted if the process has commenced?

Under the business process for the revocation of an entity's approval to be a Registered Provider of Supports, an entity whose registration is revoked may be subject to a transitional period (which may, for example, be one month) within which Participants are able to select an alternative Registered Provider of Supports. The entity will have until the end of the specified period to effect this transition.

Entities who have received a Notification of Revocation decision from the NDIA dated prior to the Closing Date and Time for Applications to the Partners in the Community Program (being, by 2:00pm on 22 September 2016) will be eligible to apply. The revocation may take effect at a later time after 22 September 2016 to allow for a transitional period.

See responses to questions 12.1, 12.2 and 12.3 above.