Page 1894 - Week 06 - Thursday, 9 May 2013
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Government—procurement
(Question No 100)
Mr Smyth asked the Minister for Economic Development, upon notice, on 10 April 2013:
(1) In relation to Growth, Diversification and Jobs Business Development Strategy—Local Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Procurement, did the Government plan to implement “a weighting against whether the tenderer is a local SME and/or their involvement with local businesses”, what consultations has the Economic Development Directorate had with Procurement Solutions with this matter and what was the advice that was provided to the Directorate.
(2) When will this initiative be implemented.
(3) How is this initiative consistent with the Government’s procurement policies.
(4) How is this initiative aligned to the (a) Australia-New Zealand Government Procurement Agreement, (b) ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, (c) Australia-Chile Free Trade Agreement, (d) Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement, (e) Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement, (f) Singapore-Australia Free Trade Agreement and (g) Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement.
(5) What is the Government’s definition of “local” and how is this in line with the agreements referred to in part (4).
Mr Barr: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) As per the Growth, Diversification and Jobs Business Development Strategy, the Government plans to introduce a new evaluation criteria for goods and services tenders that puts a weighting against whether the tenderer is a local SME and/or their involvement with local businesses. A preliminary meeting has been held between the Economic Development Directorate and Shared Services Procurement, in which advice was shared by both directorates regarding the joint development of the initiative, which is yet to be finalised.
(2) The date of implementation of this initiative is yet to be finalised.
(3) In pursuing value for money in its procurements, the Government considers factors such as probity and ethical behaviour; management of risk; open and effective competition; optimising whole of life costs; and anything else prescribed by regulation, which are then assessed against appropriate criteria. This initiative will add a new criterion to the existing set and will be weighted in such a way so as not to negate consideration of the other factors outlined above.
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