Procurement
The following information includes SV's procurement framework, activity plan, suppliers guide, and feedback process.
Framework
SV’s procurement framework is underpinned by high standards of probity, accountability and flexibility, with a focus on:
Value for money
This judgment takes a range of financial and non-financial factors into account, including the mix of quality, cost and resources; fitness for purpose; total cost of ownership; and risk.
Accountability
The Accountable Officer may conduct procurement activities and reviews to provide value-for-money outcomes.
Probity
Procurement activities and processes are held to high standards of behaviour and actions, including:
- equity
- confidentiality
- avoiding conflicts of interest
- upholding consumer/supplier confidence in the integrity of government procurement processes.
Scalability
The complexity of a procurement project is measured against the tendering organisation’s capability to conduct it to achieve a good procurement outcome.
Activity plan
SV’s planned procurement activity for the next 12-18 months is summarised in our Procurement Activity Plan.
All SV planned procurement projects are subject to revision or cancellation. The information in the Procurement Activity Plan is provided for planning purposes only. The plan does not represent a solicitation or constitute a request for proposal, nor is it a commitment by SV to purchase the described goods or services.
Suppliers guide
Suppliers must ensure that they and their employees, workers, representatives, suppliers, and subcontractors comply with the standards of conduct set out in the Supplier code of conduct and in other contractual obligations to the department.
Other contractual obligations to SV
From 1 December 2022, to do business with the Victorian Government, you must hold a Fair Jobs Code Pre-Assessment Certificate.
The Pre-Assessment Certificate is a mandatory requirement of the Fair Jobs Code, a procurement policy that applies to Victorian Government procurement contracts of $3 million or above.
The Pre-Assessment Certificate confirms compliance with industrial relations and occupational health and safety law over the previous three years. There is no cost to apply
and takes around 30 minutes. Certificates are usually issued within 30 days when full and accurate information has been provided and is valid for 2 years.
For procurement contracts over $20 million, tenders must also include a Fair Jobs Code Plan (goods and services) or Plan Addendum (construction) at the time of submission.
For further information about any aspect of the Code, please contact the Fair Jobs Code Unit.
Tenders
SV requests for tenders and expressions of interest for contracts are available from Buying for Victoria. Other state government department tenders are also advertised on this site.
Environmental considerations
SV is committed to minimising the environmental impact of the goods and services purchased to meet SV requirements. SV aims to meet this commitment by:
- purchasing goods and services that have reduced impacts on the environment, compared with competing goods and services that achieve the same function and value for money outcomes
- defining environmental procurement priorities based on assessment of environmental risks and their ability to influence environmental outcomes
- considering environmental impact when defining specifications for goods and services
- assessing the potential environmental impact of entering into a commercial engagement with a supplier, where appropriate.
Ethical employment
SV is committed to ensuring that all providers of goods and services to SV meet all obligations to their employees under any applicable industrial instruments recognised or registered under the National Workplace Relations System.
Complaints management
Any complaint about the RFQ process must be submitted to info@sustainability.vic.gov.au in writing immediately upon the cause of the complaint arising or becoming known to the Respondent.
The written complaint must set out:
- the RFQ name and number
- the basis for the complaint (specifying the issues involved)
- how the subject of the complaint (and the specific issues) affects the person or organisation making the complaint
- any relevant background information
- the outcome desired by the person or organisation making the complaint.
Complaints will be managed in a consistent, fair and transparent manner in accordance with the process outlined in the Complaints Management Framework.
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Step 1: Complainant lodges a complaint to SV in letter or email addressed to Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) (email address: info@sustainability.vic.gov.au)
Step 2: Within 5 working days SV acknowledges receipt of complaint. Acknowledgment indicates as a minimum:
• appointed person to review;
• process to be taken by organisation; and
• approximate timeline to address the matter.
Step 3: SV may require an extension of time if:
• additional information from the complainant; and/or
• the services of external parties to advise on elements of the complaint.
This extension will be based on the number of working days between the request for, and receipt of, additional information and/or advice sought. The complainant will be informed of any extension of time to consider the matter.
Step 4: Within 20 working days, the complaint will be addressed by SV and complainant will be informed of the findings and whether SV intends to take any further action.
Step 5:
Complainant accepts the finding. End of process.
OR
Complainant elects to escalate the complaint to the VGPB. Within 5 working days, SV will inform the VGPB of any complaint that could not be resolved to the satisfaction of both parties.
More information
- Submit procurement queries by email to RequestProcurement@sustainability.vic.gov.au.
- For information about Victorian Government Purchasing Board Frameworks, visit Victorian Government Procurement.
- For Victorian Government procurement and business opportunities, visit Business Victoria.