Local businesses will get a head start with all Council tenders after a revised procurement policy was adopted by Council at its last meeting.
Council CEO Dr Tim Harrison said before the revision, local businesses were given a sliding scale for tenders up to $250,000 but would now receive a 5 per cent weighting for all tenders, including those over $250,000.
Dr Harrison said that under the policy, the Council would support local suppliers where "such supply can be justified on best-value grounds".
"This is a great outcome for local businesses as it means we can give them a head start in the tender process," Dr Harrison said.
"The Council is very keen to support local business whenever we can and this will give them a better chance of winning large tenders with us.
"We encourage all locals to keep an eye on our tender notices or sign up to Tender Search at www.eprocure.com.au/ararat."
Dr Harrison said Council's procurement policy included a definition of what constituted a "local supplier".
Under the policy, a "local supplier" is defined as:
- Any organisation that employs one or more people who currently reside in the municipality and who have continually done so for at least 12 months; or,
- Any organisation that has its registered business premises located within the municipality (refer to the Australian Business Register – http://abr.business.gov.au
Dr Harrison said that under the policy, consideration is also given to s186 (6) of the Local Government Act that requires, where practicable, to give "effective and substantial preference" to the purchase of materials or goods produced in Australia or New Zealand.
