SINGAPORE — From a disease outbreak management system that will use sensors and wearables for contact tracing and monitor quarantines, to an eco system to track waste collection and recycling, the Government will be calling for a projected S$2.82 billion worth of infocomm technology (ICT) tenders in FY2016 — the highest figure since 2012.

More than half of these projected public spending on ICT this financial year will centre on improving infrastructure, as Singapore continues its drive towards becoming the first Smart Nation, said Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) managing director Jacqueline Poh on Monday (May 23) at an annual industry briefing where the Government shares its ICT strategies. The higher value of tenders is explained by the renewal of several large security contracts and the fact that infrastructure contracts tend to be consumed over three to five years, she noted.

On the cards for infrastructure improvements are plans that include a “massive” expansion of Wi-Fi systems in schools to support smart learning, said Ms Poh.

The Government also wants to boost investments in cybersecurity, especially in the areas of transport, healthcare and banking.

More data centres will also be needed to support the various Smart Nation initiatives, with at least a 25 per cent increase in utilisation expected. This will not mean that the physical space needed for these data centres will grow by as much, given that there will be “more efficient utilisation of space, solutions as well as higher density racks”, said an IDA spokesman.

Although applications developed for various Smart Nation initiatives are what the public will “touch and feel and see every day”, Ms Poh noted that “infrastructure is a critical foundation layer for the rapid and effective application of (these) applications”.

Under the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) procurement plan presented at the briefing, more than S$50 million is estimated to go towards a new data centre, while more than S$5 million is slated for a revamp of its integrated disease outbreak management system.

Mr David Chua, director of IT systems (Infocomm Division) at MOH, said that a tender will be called in 2017 for the use of sensors and wearable technology for contact tracing, quarantine and the automation of medical supplies stockpile monitoring.

Data analytics will also be used to manage a disease outbreak.

As for the National Environment Agency, one of the key procurement items include a Waste Eco System, which will support the agency in its vision of attaining zero waste. For instance, the system will report and manage waste recycling, track waste collection and processed toxic waste.

The value of government ICT contracts has been steadily rising annually. In 2012, the value was S$1.2 billion, rising to S$1.21 billion, then S$1.95 billion, and finally S$2.69 billion last year, when a large portion went to development of web services and digital initiatives.

Last year, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) accounted for more than half the total contracted value of government ICT tenders. The IDA has signalled that this year will see a similar trend, with the value of eight out of 10 projects capped at S$5 million, making it more attainable for SMEs.

FY2016 Govt ICT projects

National Environment Agency (NEA) One-Stop Service Portal
A one-stop online portal for e-services, e-payments, and e-appointments, for citizens to submit NEA-related applications, permits and payments online.

Revamp of a Ministry of Health (MOH) Integrated Disease Outbreak Management System 
(Estimated procurement value: More than S$5 million) Latest technologies to improve monitoring and response speeds will be included.

MOH Healthcare Claims Portal (Estimated procurement value: More than S$5 million) A portal to reduce clinics’ overheads by consolidating multiple claim forms into an integrated claim form.

Environment Enforcement Management System
A new integrated system that will be more efficient in the monitoring and alerting of environmental offences.