Procurement, tendering and contracts

Overview

Liverpool Plains Shire Council is committed to a consistent approach and control in all procurement activities. We aim to ensure we obtain best value-for-money in the expenditure of public funds and conduct our procurement with probity in a cost-effective, accountable, ethical and professional manner.

As with all local councils, we are required to conduct our procurement in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Local Government Act 1993 and Local Government (General) Regulation 2021, including the Tendering Guidelines for Local Government issued by the Office of Local Government.

Procurement methods

We use a variety of procurement methods to source goods and services, including in-house services, store, established contract, quotation and tendering.

Method When we use this method
In-house services  Where we provide the same or similar services. 
Store  Where our Store stocks the same or similar items.
Existing/established contract  Where an existing/established contract is made available through prescribed entities; Local Government Procurement, Procurement Australia, NSW Buy, available through the Namoi Joint Organisation, and Council-established period contracts.
Quotation  Where the value of work, goods or services is under the threshold of $250,000 including GST.
Tendering  Where the value of work, good or services is at the threshold of $250,000 and over including GST. The Regulation specifies the requirements for the three different tendering methods:
  • Open tendering;
  • Selective tendering by which invitations to tender are made after public advertisement for expressions of interest; or
  • Selective tendering by which recognised contractors listed by Council are invited to tender

Requests for Quotation

We seek requests for quotation (RfQ) for the purchase of goods and services and with a value of under $250,000 (including GST).  We must seek a number of quotations prior to procuring goods and services, depending on the estimated value of the goods or serviced being purchased.

Estimated value of Goods or Services (inclusive of GST) Minimum requirements
Up to $1,000  Minimum of one (1) verbal quotations. 
$1,001 to $5,000  Minimum of two (2) written quotations. 
$5,001 to $50,000  Minimum of three (3) written quotations based on Quotation process, or direct purchase using a prescribed agency contract. 
$50,001 to $150,000  Minimum of three (3) written quotations based on Quotation process, or three (3) written quotations using a prescribed agency contract.
$150,001 to $250,000 Minimum of three (3) written quotations using prescribed agency contracts or Tender (depending on the complexity of the contract).

Public advertising

All Requests for Quotation (RfQ) are advertised through our VendorPanel portal.  This will utilise contracts from prescribed agencies, enterprise panel contracts established by Council and the Namoi Joint Organisation, and public marketplace, including local suppliers.

Requests for Tender (RfT) are invited by public notice in accordance with the provisions prescribed under the Regulation.  Current tenders will be published on our website, TenderLink and any relevant newspapers.

VendorPanel

In order to work more effectively with local and general suppliers, we source all quotations through the VendorPanel Marketplace.

VendorPanel is a platform used by many government agencies and businesses to manage procurement and contracts.  Suppliers can register with VendorPanel for free, and we encourage all local businesses in the Liverpool Plains local government area, as well as those in neighbouring areas, to register with VendorPanel.

Requests for Tender

We seek Requests for Tender (RfT) for goods and services with a value of $250,000 and over (inclusive GST) or where services may be long term and recurring in nature.

 

Current Tenders (In compliance with the changes in public advertising – LG (General) Regs. 21 Clause 167,168,169 (1) (a))

 

 

  

       

 

 

Recently closed tenders

 

     

 


Awarded tenders

 

Contracts Register

Council is required to keep a register that records information about each contract to which Council is a party that has (or is likely to have) a value of $150,000 (including GST) or more. Information is entered in the register within 45 working days after the contract becomes effective. Employment contracts don’t need to be included in the register. 

Contract-Register-as-on-31.12.2023.pdf(PDF, 196KB)

Contract-Register-as-on-31.03.2024.xlsx(XLSX, 32KB)