Page 52 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 10 February 2015
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has recently been awarded the contract for dryland grass mowing along arterial roads and connecting roads in the ACT. Minister, why did Citywide, a Victorian-based and owned company, win this contract over locally owned and operated businesses?
MR RATTENBURY: Citywide were successful in securing the contract through a competitive tendering process. As I said publicly in response to Mr Wall’s comments last week, they did come in at around half the price, so they provide better value for money because they have economies of scale. Through the competitive tendering process, they were shown to provide the best value for money for ACT taxpayers.
There are a number of criteria by which contractors were assessed under this competitive tendering process. There is a criterion for local providers, and some of the local firms scored a maximum set of points in that criterion and Citywide were given none. But when the overall tendering process was weighed up, Citywide were perceived as providing the best value for money for ACT taxpayers.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Wall.
MR WALL: Minister, why were potential tenderers told at an industry briefing that no one contractor would be awarded more than one contract, given that Citywide has now been awarded all three?
MR RATTENBURY: I do not know what Mr Wall is referring to. Obviously I was not at a meeting that he appears to have some knowledge of. What I can say is that Citywide have only been given a contract for arterial roads in the ACT. All other mowing is done by ACT government staff, local employees employed by the ACT government on an ongoing basis, with full-time contracts. Eighty per cent are permanent employees of the ACT government. Unlike many other contracts, where people are employed on a casual basis, the ACT government is actually providing full-time jobs for the vast bulk of our mowing staff—as I said, 80 per cent in permanent employment.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Coe.
MR COE: Minister, did the contractor fulfil all the requirements of their previous contract with the ACT government?
MR RATTENBURY: I will have to take the specifics of that question on notice, Mr Coe. What I have been advised is that Citywide have been meeting their contractual obligations under their current mowing contract. I do not have advice on their earlier contract; I will seek that answer and provide it to the Assembly.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Coe.
MR COE: Minister, would you please provide to the Assembly information about all the contracts awarded to Citywide, including the dates, the scope of work and the amounts of those contracts, and any variations.
MR RATTENBURY: Yes, that will be fine.
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