Confidence

Procurement driven by the highest standards

We drive value for money in our procurement. This means more than just selecting the lowest priced offer. It involves advancing relevant government economic, ethical, social and environmental objectives, while observing high standards of integrity, probity and accountability commensurate with the objective, value and risk of the procurement. This not only improves transparency and business confidence, but importantly, ensures the long-term wellbeing of Queenslanders is put first.

We achieve this by:

• enhancing the capability of our procurement function and data analytics
• maintaining an effective and contemporary governance framework
• working with suppliers to reduce duplication and leverage industry insights
• clarifying procurement scope and value for money, optimising forward procurement planning and providing debriefs to unsuccessful suppliers
• maintaining a sharp focus on making it easier for suppliers to do business with government.

Compliance with the QPP ensures everyone plays by the rules, and drives better outcomes for Queenslanders. The Queensland Government Procurement Compliance Branch ensures government suppliers and agencies meet their commitments under the QPP by:

• conducting audits and investigations
• managing procurement complaints
• reviewing tenders to ensure prospective suppliers will deliver genuine, quality and secure ongoing jobs with fair pay and safe working conditions.

Strong foundations

Building on the strong foundations set by Buy Queensland in 2017, we will continue to use our procurement to:

• put Queenslanders first when securing value for money in our procurement, recognising value for money is more than just the lowest price
• undertake procurement with integrity, ensuring probity and accountability for outcomes
• assess value for money holistically using strengthened data and analytics
• do business with ethical suppliers, through the application of the Ethical Supplier Threshold and Ethical Supplier Mandate
• improve forward planning and provide advance notice of procurement activities
• make it easier to do business with government
• build procurement capability and expertise
• support positive outcomes, while celebrating, promoting and recognising suppliers and buyers who excel in achieving these outcomes through the Buy Queensland Supplier and Buyer Awards.

The Buy Queensland approach to government procurement has seen procurement’s functional maturity improve from ‘Foundation’ to ‘Established’. Buy Queensland 2023 will move Queensland Government procurement to ‘Leading’ status by 2027.

Taking it to the next level

Through Buy Queensland 2023, we will:

• update the definitions of ‘procurement’ and ‘value for money’ to help make it easier to understand and apply
• develop guiding principles for the collection and publication of forward procurement information
• develop business rules for the establishment and management of common-use supply arrangements
• mandate that debriefing is to be offered to all suppliers who tender for government business
• mandate departments to conduct procurement functional maturity and capability assessments
• mandate departments to develop procurement certification targets, and track progress
• strengthen compliance monitoring with the QPP
• mandate procurement awareness training for any employee new to purchasing or procurement
• mandate the use of plain language in tenders and contracts, and request only relevant information from suppliers
• ensure the QPP clearly states the government’s compliance expectations for procurement
• proactively report procurement audit and compliance activities, driving better procurement outcomes.

Making it easier to supply to government

We will produce an action plan to:

• refine and maximise the potential of our governance bodies to enhance engagement between government, industry and unions on strategic procurement policy issues
• make it easier for suppliers to do business with government, including when tendering for government work.

Case study: Department of Resources

A commitment to supporting local jobs, small and medium enterprises, and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander businesses, and the adoption of flexible, innovative procurement approaches and best practice governance, has seen Department of Resources Project Manager, Andrew Friend and Senior Procurement Officer, Jose Puttanani win an award for Procurement Excellence at the inaugural 2022 Buy Queensland Buyer Awards.

As part of the Abandoned Mine Lands Program, which is a Queensland Government initiative to manage the public health, safety and environmental risks from abandoned mines within Queensland, Andrew and Jose procured goods and services to enable the management and remediation of the Baal Gammon and Collingwood Tin Abandoned Mines located in North Queensland. Their work, underpinned by the Queensland Procurement Policy objectives, displays excellence in procurement and contract management.

Their approach focuses on:

• optimising participation of local businesses, small and medium enterprises (SME), and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander businesses
• empowering suppliers to tender for work
• implementing strong governance and planning approaches, including consultation with internal and external stakeholders to maintain confidence in procurement management
• utilising collaborative strategies for procurement and contract management
• encouraging staff to consider the pros and cons of unbundling, and investing effort into contract managing work with SMEs and local suppliers.

Andrew and Jose have exemplified procurement excellence, delivering value for money, significant local supplier content, SME spend and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander business spend, and improved internal capability to undertake innovative procurement approaches.

Case study: Advocate for Indigenous procurement

Marrawah Law, headquartered in Cairns, is a leading independent Indigenous law firm. It is 100 per cent female and Indigenous owned with more than 80 per cent First Nations employment, is National Doyle’s Guide and International Chambers listed (an independent directory showcasing Australia’s best firms and lawyers), and Supply Nation certified.

Marrawah Law developed Queensland’s first Indigenous Corporate Wealth Sharing model, providing a template for Indigenous communities to start commercial companies and equitably share profits.

Principal Solicitor and owner, Leah Cameron said, “The model, developed for the Queensland Government, was successfully trialled at Cherbourg.

“Now other communities can pick it up and use it for all different sorts of businesses.”

Marrawah Law exemplifies the Buy Queensland procurement approach – providing solutions to support government procurement initiatives, employing Indigenous peoples and demonstrating supply chain diversity by using local Indigenous suppliers, from taxi services and catering to marketing, wherever possible.

The 100 per cent Indigenous-owned law firm, which started in 2013, has 14 staff in Cairns and Brisbane. The firm offers high school work experience, and accommodates law students’ practical, legal training and placements.

It has represented 45 Indigenous businesses in Queensland, 26 Prescribed Bodies Corporate, and engaged with several Queensland Government agencies on housing, education and general living improvements to benefit Queenslanders.

Leah regularly advocates the benefits of Indigenous procurement to organisations ranging from government and corporates to the Queensland Law Society and media, while staff lecture and mentor at programs, such as the Minderoo Foundations’ Dream Summit.

Leah said Marrawah Law’s Indigenous staff were community role models, demonstrating that they too could be lawyers, practice managers or work in finance.

“We can have these really high-flying jobs and still be able to live up to expectations in our community.

“We can walk in two worlds,” Leah said.

Now working collaboratively with bigger companies on Queensland Government projects, Leah is driving Marrawah Law to be a much bigger presence in the Queensland legal profession.

Supply Nation’s research shows for every $1 spent at Marrawah Law, $4.41 of social impact is generated via their pro-bono work, their supply chain, and their more than 80 per cent Indigenous staffing and their clients.