Council has approved changes to its Procurement Policy, which now includes new criteria to address factors such as gender equity, recycled content and social outcomes.
The City spends $200 million each year procuring goods, works and services and is committed to supporting local suppliers, sub-contractors and apprentices on a value-for-money basis.
Depending on the procurement type, the amended policy allows the City to apply extra criteria to quotes and tenders, based on:
- employment opportunities for residents in low socioeconomic areas
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and/or businesses
- recycled content and environment consideration
- gender equity considerations
- other social outcomes and
- clever and creative innovation.
The new criteria encourages our suppliers to look at different areas in the municipality that could possibly receive benefits as a result of winning work for council.
An example of this may be suppliers directing a percentage of profits from a job to a local charity or not-for-profit organisation.
The policy also formalises an exemption process for situations when three quotes can't be sought.
A probity advisor will still be needed for purchases of more than $1 million, however this will be based on a risk assessment for each procurement.
Acting Mayor - Councillor Peter Murrihy
The City's Procurement Policy has been updated to further align with our 30-year vision and the community's expectations and aspirations.I'm particularly pleased that the amended policy strengthens our partnership with G21's Region Opportunities for Work (GROW) initiative, which tackles disadvantage in low socio-economic areas stemming from joblessness.
A great example of this initiative in the procurement process is how tenderers to the City's Civic Precinct Project are being encouraged to become signatories and create employment opportunities for target job seekers.
Councillor Pat Murnane - Chair, Finance portfolio
I'm pleased council has approved an amended policy, as we'd all prefer to see our local industry do well off the $200 million the City spends on procurement each year.Initiatives such as GROW are important drivers to tackle disadvantage and inequality in our community, as part of works contracted by council.
