Procurement

Last updated: 14 August 2023
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Sustainability Victoria (SV) is fully committed to supporting the Government’s directions under Victoria's Social Procurement Framework and we recognise that we play a key role in advancing social and sustainable outcomes for Victorians.

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 the Procurement Activity Plan 2022-23 (xlxs, 47kB) (pdf, 213kB).

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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