June 16, 2015
Local firms wishing to do business with Toowoomba Regional Council have been urged to register their relevant details in readiness for the new financial year.
TRC approved changes on Tuesday to its Procurement Policy 2015/16 in a bid to boost opportunities for local suppliers.
Finance and Business Strategy committee chair, Deputy Mayor Mike Williams, said the policy changes focused on offering further support to local suppliers.
Cr Williams said purchasing activities that required two quotations must now include at least one quote from a local supplier. He said Council officers also could seek more than two quotes from local or outside suppliers.
“For procurement or purchasing activities that need three quotes, at least two must be sought from local suppliers,” Cr Williams said.
“Council wishes to offer every opportunity to local suppliers who meet all required criteria and consequently a 10 per cent selection weighting will be applied to local suppliers when calling tenders.
“For purchasing or procurement done using quotes and on a case-by-case basis, where prices submitted by a local and a non-local supplier are comparable, officers have the discretion to apply a price-only margin, up to 2.5 per cent of the non-local offer, in a bid to support local suppliers.
“Council urges local suppliers to register business details with Council in order to identify themselves, their products and services and, therefore, to promote greater business opportunities.
“This latest and seventh policy revision comes after extensive discussion and input with business and industry representatives. This is a measure of how strongly Council views offering opportunities to businesses in our region.
“Council also has presented these details at numerous community engagement forums around the region.”
Cr Williams said the value of TRC’s business dealings with local suppliers had grown from $5 million per month to $12 million a month in the past year.
“This highlights Council’s desire to achieve value for money outcomes and also sees a direct $12 million stimulus to the regional economy,” Cr Williams said.
“These numbers could be even stronger if we took into account dealings with some suppliers whose projects are using mostly local suppliers and workers.”
Interested business people can call 13-18-72 or register at www.toowoombaRC.qld.gov.au
Once registered most arrangements are in place for 12 months, unless otherwise specified.
