The Territory Labor Government is improving the current procurement assessment process to cut red tape and make tendering easier for Territory businesses.
The new Value for Territory Test will be easier, fairer and more transparent – helping boost local business and local jobs.
The Government has listened to the feedback from key stakeholders – individual businesses, the Buy Local Advocate, Chamber of Commerce NT, Civil Contractors Federation NT, Master Builders NT and Government agencies about the current assessment framework for determining government contracts.
They’ve told us it can sometimes be too subjective, inconsistent and confusing for local businesses who are bidding for work.
We want to make it as easy, and fair as it possibly can be for locals to get work. We’ve listened to the advice and now we’re acting – with a new test which puts Territory businesses and Territory jobs first.
This new test will maximise opportunities for Territory businesses to tender for NT Government contracts by:
- Making the assessment criteria more transparent and more relevant to the specific project being tendered, so local businesses know what Government wants, why they want it and how their tender will be assessed.
- Ensuring greater consistency and objectivity in assessing tender applications.
- Making it easier for local businesses to understand and submit a tender.
- Encouraging Innovation.
The test makes sure local businesses well positioned by focusing on:
- Clearly defining procurement objectives so that they align with broader Territory government priorities.
- Striking the right balance between risk and value for Territorians.
- Ensuring a competitive procurement environment and supporting the participation of Territory businesses who add back to the Territory economy.
- Balancing price with other considerations which provide value for Territorians.
- Ensuring Government staff involved in procurement have competencies to do their job with maximum effectiveness.
Local jobs and buying local are at the centre of the Value for Territory Test – strengthening the Territory’s Buy Local Plan and providing consistent delivery.
Industry input is vital to ensure we get this right, and that the largest portion of every dollar spent by the Northern Territory Government is retained in the Territory and delivers benefits for our economy, small businesses and local jobs.
Consultation with industry will begin immediately and is expected to be completed by April 2020, with full implementation of the new assessment framework concluding in 2021.
Quotes attributed to Acting Chief Minister Nicole Manison:
“Labor’s first, second and third priorities for 2020 are jobs, jobs and jobs.
“This is about making sure local businesses get a fair go at winning government work.
“This is a red tape-slashing, small business-boosting, job-creating reform.
“We know local businesses don’t have an army of consultants to fill out confusing paperwork. It needs to be as simple and easy as possible, and that’s what we’re delivering.
“Labor doesn’t apologise for always putting Territory jobs first.”
