A FORMER public servant who helped evaluate the Queensland Health payroll contract exchanged emails with successful bidder - technology giant IBM.
But Shaurin Ranjanikant Shah, who was employed as an Implementation Project Manager with the State Government outfit CorpTech, says the exchanges were made before the formal evaluation process was under way.
The email exchange was just one in a series of revelations about the contract process made in the payroll inquiry, which will continue hearing evidence in the Brisbane Magistrates Court next week.
The inquiry, headed by former Supreme Court Judge Richard Chesterman, QC, is examining why IBM won the contract which left Queensland Health with a deeply-flawed payroll system expected to cost up to $1.2 billion.
Counsel Assisting Peter Flanagan, SC, has told the inquiry the spotlight will be put on a range of key figures in the contract process, including former IBM employee Terry Burns, who worked with the State Government in securing the contract.
Yesterday morning, Mr Flanagan spent some time cross-examining Mr Shah, who was part of a large team overseeing the contract process, on the email from IBM.
"Why would a representative from IBM be emailing you directly?" Mr Flanagan asked.
"I don't know why he (the representative) chose to write to me," Mr Shah replied. "I can only say that I have a very clear recollection that I didn't provide any email addresses . . ."
Mr Shah later clarified the matter, saying there was some contact with the companies involved in the contract.
"There were some exchanges with me and the guys and the vendor," he said.
But once the formal process of contract evaluation was under way he was directed to stop writing to people individually, and have all contacts go through a superior.
Gary Uhlmann, owner of Arena Consulting - expected to give evidence next week - was asked to review government technical programs which were experiencing time delays and cost blowouts.
That review was part of the process which led to the decision to outsource the health payroll system in a tender which went down to a two-horse race between IBM and Accenture.
Mr Uhlmann said it was during the review process he met Terry Burns, who was working as an unpaid consultant for the State Government.
Mr Uhlmann said he surmised Mr Burns might have been working for no pay to establish his credentials in the technology field.
"I formed a positive opinion of Mr Burns' experience and capability," he wrote.
The inquiry continues Monday.
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