Local advantage in tenders

Local businesses will be given greater weighting when they tender for Baw Baw Shire contracts.

An annual review of council’s procurement policy has been endorsed by councillors with local businesses and the timber industry to benefit from the amendments.

Officers said the amendments were recommended following ongoing internal reviews, feedback from internal stakeholders and continuous improvement.

During the COVID-19 pandemic councillors approved a higher weighting for local content in all tenders, increasing the weighting increased from 10 per cent to 20 per cent.

But the new policy has now permanently increased that weighting where it will bring economic benefits to the region.

The amended policy includes: Strengthening support of local businesses by providing increased

weighting for local content where a project or services could potentially create significant financial or social benefit to the Baw Baw region;

Strengthening consideration around sustainable procurement to now include consideration to sustainable procurement such as encouraging and supporting the use of recycled products; minimising waste generated; supporting the use of clean technologies; encouraging and supporting local business to bid for council’s business; and

promotion of Fairtrade or equivalent ethically sourced products;

Corporate social responsibility when procuring goods, services or works - recognising the need to take positive action to demonstrate council’s commitment to the local community and environment;

Reference to the Timber Encouragement Policy - ensuring a preference for certified timber from responsibly managed plantations for the construction and fit out of council buildings and infrastructure where possible and appropriate; and,

Strengthening consideration around social procurement - focusing on promoting social inclusion and breaking cycles of disadvantage, looking for new opportunities to strengthen local skills base, strengthen local economic development, identifying opportunities that deliver social benefit, develop partnerships with community stakeholders and exploring new ways to generate employment.

Cr Mikaela Power said the policy came back to council regularly for review.

“Essentially it makes us think more about how we spend it and who we spend it with.

“That is particularly important at the moment when businesses are doing it tough,” she said.

Cr Darren Wallace said the policy set out guidelines for who will win council tenders.

“We have an obligation to award these to the most appropriate contractor, not necessarily the cheapest,” he said.

Cr Wallace said council should be supporting local, clean and green and sustainable contractors.

He said supporting local communities and local jobs should always be front and centre of contract considerations

“We need to be supporting local companies to get more bang for your buck,” he said.

Cr Tricia Jones said now more than ever there was a need to focus on local business and the policy review recommended changes with that in mind.

Securing local certified timber also was a priority, Cr Jones said.

Cr Michael Leaney said the policy was a good outcome for the shire, but also for the local timber industry.