Procurement

Procurement

Council Procurement is governed by the Procurement Principles outlined in The Local Government Act 1993 and the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021, as well as Council’s Procurement Policy. Several factors are taken into account in Council's Procurement activities, including: 

• quality and performance
• value for money
• community expectations and values
• opportunities for local employment growth
• environmental sustainability.

How Council Procures Goods and Services

Each department within the Council designates buyers who are responsible for sourcing the goods and services they need, adhering to Council’s Procurement Policy and guidelines. Understanding how Council undertakes its purchasing processes can greatly improve a business’s chances of becoming a trusted supplier.

Council may choose to utilise existing government panels, such as Local Government Procurement & Procurement Australia. In such instances, opportunities are facilitated through electronic e-procurement portals, such as VendorPanel.

Suppliers participating in such government panels will have received instructions on how to register and receive notification of opportunities as part of the panel induction. You may also be interested in participating in these panels. To obtain information on becoming a supplier for one of the panels, please contact the relevant government panel.

Council advertises its open tenders through the TenderLink portal and on its official website. To receive notifications of upcoming tenders and to submit tender applications, suppliers must register with TenderLink.

Tendering

For procurements valued at $250,000 (including GST) or more, Council invites suppliers to participate in the tendering process via TenderLink. Suppliers can access the platform to:

• View details of current tenders
• Access tender conditions, contracts, submission instructions, and other essential notifications
• Register to receive email alerts about new tenders published by Council
• Submit tenders and track responses to questions through the forum or comment system on active requests

By engaging with the TenderLink portal, suppliers can stay updated on new procurement opportunities and ensure they are fully equipped to respond to Council tenders. Adhering to these procedures and understanding Council’s procurement framework is key to establishing a strong supplier relationship with the Council.

Purchase Orders

When a supplier or individual successfully wins a quotation or tender, they are issued an official Purchase Order. The Purchase Order will be authorised and will include the supplier’s name, ABN number, contact information, a description of the required goods or services, delivery details, and the price including GST. The Council’s Purchase Order Terms and Conditions will also be provided with the purchase order. It is recommended that suppliers review these conditions before conducting business with the Council to understand their potential impact.

Doing Business with Council 

We require all suppliers to adhere to our Procurement Policy and Business Ethics Policy, promptly declare any actual or perceived conflicts of interest, and conduct themselves ethically, fairly, and honestly in all dealings with Council. Providers must take reasonable steps to safeguard confidential information, provide accurate and reliable advice when requested, and refrain from offering any financial inducements, gifts, or other benefits to Council staff that could influence or be perceived as influencing their decisions. Failure to comply with the Procurement Policy and Business Ethics Policy may result in the termination of contracts and the loss of future opportunities.