LOCAL BUSINESSES: register now for improved opportunities to win Council contracts

Businesses in the Goondiwindi region will have improved opportunities to win local government contracts thanks to Goondiwindi Regional Council’s move to a new online procurement system that ensures greater transparency and fairness.

Council is now using the cloud-based platform VendorPanel for quotes and tenders of more than $15,000 (excluding GST), and strongly encourages Goondiwindi region businesses to sign up so they don’t miss out on opportunities to win work.

Mayor of the Goondiwindi region the Honourable Cr Lawrence Springborg AM said Council’s switch to VendorPanel was part of an effort to improve efficiency and transparency, as well as drive increased local spending.

“Council manually procures a large number of goods and services in order to deliver its essential works to the Goondiwindi region,” Cr Springborg said. “By moving our procurement management system to VendorPanel, local suppliers for medium and large sized projects will have increased opportunities to get their business directly in front of Council and have a fair go at winning the work.”

The platform is free for suppliers to use and registration is easy:

1. Visit: www.vendorpanel.com.au/marketplace
2. Search and select the most appropriate category for your business
3. Click on the link, complete your profile and instantly be visible to buyers

From 1 March 2021, the majority of Council procurement activities over $15,000 (ex. GST) will be sourced through VendorPanel. Current suppliers should already have received notification about the change, and all other suppliers should register with VendorPanel now in preparation. Quotes of less than that value will not be affected and will continue through the normal procurement process.

“Council strives to achieve value for money for residents while ensuring probity, transparency and accountability, and VendorPanel aligns very well with our procurement principles,” Cr Springborg said.

Council’s procurement policy usually ensures that all goods and services up to $2,000 are bought locally where available, and this limit has temporarily been increased to $5,000 as part of Council’s COVID-19 Community and Economic Relief Package for 2020-21 to increase local spending and further support local businesses.

About 70% of the suppliers used by Council in the last half of 2020 for quotes of more than $15,000 (ex. GST) are already registered with VendorPanel, but Cr Springborg is encouraging other local businesses in the region – including those who have perhaps not quoted for Council contracts before - to sign up.

“While VendorPanel is certainly not new to many businesses who are already used to working with local government contracts, I do want to encourage local suppliers to get on board and throw their hat into the ring, as it could expose their business to new opportunities,” he said.

Once registered, suppliers can receive invitations to quote on work from Council, as well as other local government organisations, across various categories from building products to transportation and freight. The platform also manages communication between buyers and suppliers, with real-time reporting and improved data to reduce admin and save time while also ensuring that best practice procurement processes are followed.