Smash Repair Request for Proposal

A RFP is simply a process that a business can use to help it select vendors to provide it with goods and services, in our case smash repairs. It just means we are asking smash repairers if they want to work with us, how they want to do it and about the quality and service they can provide.

Why are we doing this now?

Repairers have been asking for years for new ways we can work more closely together and we want to change the nature of the relationship between us and repairers for the better.

There's also a positive change occurring in the industry including new technologies and a willingness to truly partner together.

We are open to new ways of thinking, new ways of working together and we want to hear from individual repairers as to how they would like to work with us.

How long will the process take - what is the timeline?

The RFP was first advertised on Saturday 10 September 2011 and the closing date for submissions is Friday 14 October at 2pm (EDST). All proposals will then be reviewed into the New Year and we expect to have contract arrangements progressed with repairers in March/April next year in order for the new commercial arrangements to be in place by 1 July, 2012.

Will we still use tendering / WRM?

Tendering has been, and remains, a good model for doing business together but it would be wrong to predict what the general outcome of the RFP might be. What we can say is that we are very open to models other than tendering.

Does this mean that tendering has not worked?

No, tendering was right for its time and may still be right into the future. We are open to what sort of business relationship repairers would like to have with us.

What does this mean for ORM?

We see that ORM will continue to play a role in any new network.

What does this mean for NTAR?

We will continue to use NTAR.

Will there be "super shops" or "exclusive" arrangements with repairers?

It is up to repairers to tell us how they want to partner with us. We are open to new ways of doing things and we look forward to seeing what the RFP produces.

Will there still be PSRs and ASRs after the RFP?

We encourage PSRs, ASRs, and all other repairers, to take part in the RFP process.

We don't know what the new model may look like but assume there will still be different levels of partnering.

What happens if I am an ASR or PSR and I don't participate in the RFP process?

We understand repairers may not want to partner with us and that's their choice. We are asking all repairers to put their hands up to become part of our future network and to do this it will require a response to our RFP.

What happens if I am an ASR or PSR and I do participate but I'm unsuccessful?

We are not changing choice of repairer so customers will still be able to use any repairer should they choose.

Current network repairers who are unsuccessful will not be eligible to receive a new contract when their current contracts are due to expire. All current repairer contracts will run until their expiration subject to the terms that were previously agreed.

How many repairers will you have after this process?

That will be determined by the responses to the RFP.

When will my contract end if I am unsuccessful?

In NSW and ACT all existing agreements will run to completion subject to the terms that were previously agreed - the majority expire on 30th June 2012.

When will the new contracts take effect in NSW/ ACT?

New contracts will commence on 1st July 2012.

For what period will the new contracts be issued?

Repairers should propose to us what their contract length should be - we are open to all views and proposals.