V.ISC.2506 - LPA Service Centre Maintenance Contract

Summary

This project was an ongoing annual agreement between Meat & Livestock Australia (on behalf of Integrity Systems Company) and Apheta Data Solutions Pty Ltd to continue supporting and maintaining the Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) Service Centre. The contract covered service centre support and maintenance development through to 30 June 2026, helping ensure the continued reliability and performance of the LPA product for industry users.

Objectives

The project's objectives centred on maintaining and enhancing the Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) database on an ongoing basis. This included resolving bugs and defects, strengthening database security and access controls, and implementing security review outcomes. It also covered improving data integrity through integrations such as single sign-on, CRM connectivity, and links with AUS-MEAT systems, alongside decommissioning the legacy offline accreditation IVR interface. The Consultant provided development support to ISC Customer Service staff in resolving system issues, maintained third-party payment and data integrations (including NFAS, LPAQA, and NLIS PIC status data), and carried out ad hoc enhancements, data requests, and stakeholder liaison as directed by ISC.

Key findings

The LPA Service Centre Maintenance Contract was an ongoing annual agreement between Meat & Livestock Australia (on behalf of Integrity Systems Company) and Apheta Data Solutions Pty Ltd to support and maintain the Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) product. The engagement covered database maintenance and security enhancements, data integrity improvements, development support to ISC Customer Service, and ad hoc system enhancements. The key finding was that all deliverables under the contract were met successfully, to Integrity Systems' satisfaction.

Benefits to industry

By maintaining and continuously improving the LPA Service Centre, this contract ensured industry-wide access to the Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) system remained reliable, secure, and up to date. Key benefits to industry included:

Continued, uninterrupted access to the LPA database for producers and supply chain participants to manage their accreditation and compliance obligations.

Improved system security and access controls, reducing risk to sensitive producer and industry data.

Streamlined data integrity through integrations with key systems such as AUS-MEAT and NLIS, supporting more accurate and connected supply chain information.

Faster resolution of bugs and user-reported issues, minimising disruption to producers and industry stakeholders relying on the system.

Ongoing enhancements responsive to user feedback, keeping the LPA system aligned with evolving industry needs.

Overall, the ongoing support and maintenance of the LPA system helped safeguard industry's continued trust in, and access to, a critical piece of livestock supply chain infrastructure.

MLA action

No actions for MLA other than to ensure a new contract is executed for FY27 for ongoing support.

Future research

Yes, there is a requirement to continually have a support and maintenance contract in place for LPA whilst the product is not being developed 'in house'.