Council contract opportunities canvassed with local chamber


The door to opportunities encased in sourcing contracts with Council was thrown wide open to members of the local business community attending a Bundaberg Chamber of Commerce breakfast this week.
 
“Supplying to Local Government” was the topic presented by Bundaberg Regional Council’s Strategic Supply team.
 
Chamber president Yale Morgan said around 30 local business operators were represented at the information session. “I was staggered that around 70% of those attending were not registered with Council Local Buy or Local Government Tenderbox platforms.”
 
“The presentation made it clear a high volume of local goods and service providers are missing out on an opportunity to engage in supplying to our local Council.
 
“I think the information taken from the Chamber breakfast will provide food for thought for many local business operators,” Mr Morgan said.
 
Council Economic Development portfolio spokesperson Cr Greg Barnes said it was important that local business operators availed themselves of the opportunity to supply to Council.
 
“Council had a budget of around $181 million dollars in third party spend in the last financial year with the majority of its procurements under the $200,000 mark.
 
“Council strongly supports dealing with local business but at the same time it is incumbent on local business to let Council know what goods and services are available in the local marketplace.”
 
Cr Barnes said the Chamber breakfast had been an ideal venue to explain the legalities involved in the tender or contract awarding processes as well as an introduction on how to engage with Council as a supplier.
 
“Council is also reviewing the methods by which it promotes its contract opportunities through a supplier relationship management protocol which includes identifying well in advance its strategic supply needs.
 
“This will allow Council to go to the market earlier and encourage wider engagement with suppliers.”
 
Cr Barnes said evidence of the success of the “Supplying to Local Government” presentation was reflected in the booked out State Government run workshop on writing successful tender documents held the day after the Chamber breakfast.
 
For more information visit Bundaberg Regional Council