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Information and communication technology

ICT SME participation scheme policy

Document type:
Policy
Version:
Final v3.0.1
Status:
Owner:
ICT Strategic Sourcing
Effective:
July 2021–current
Security classification:
OFFICIAL-Public

Purpose

This policy:

  • ensures agencies adopt a consistent procurement process to ensure effective engagement specifically with Queensland small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that provide products and services in the ICT industry.
  • supports the achievement of set spend targets for purchases from Queensland SMEs. For the purposes of the target, Queensland SME means an SME that has registered its main business location as Queensland, with the Australian Business Register.

Policy statement

The Queensland Government provides a transparent and accountable procurement process to assist Queensland SMEs gain greater access to the Queensland Government market.

Policy benefits

SMEs contribute significantly to the Queensland economy, and the Queensland Government is committed to assisting SMEs by providing them with full, fair and reasonable opportunity to access government business for the supply of products and services. This policy will enable:

  • SMEs to gain greater access to the Queensland Government market
  • increased market competition between suppliers of all sizes
  • the consideration of value for money benefits of engaging SMEs
  • a transparent and objective procurement process
  • an auditable and accountable procurement process
  • a process which is easily incorporated into agency level ICT tenders and contracts.

Applicability

This policy applies to all Queensland Government departments (as defined by the Public Sector Act 2022) and agencies subject to the Queensland Procurement Policy (QPP).

Accountable officers (not already in scope of the Public Sector Act 2022) and statutory bodies under the Financial and Performance Management Standard 2019 must have regard to this policy in the context of internal controls, financial information management systems and risk management.

Other government entities such as government owned corporations who are not covered by the above, are encouraged to participate in the ICT SME participation scheme policy and contribute to achieving economic, environmental and social objectives through targeted ICT procurement spend.

For more information see:

Please see the Applicability of the Queensland Government Enterprise Architecture (QGEA) for further information.

Policy requirements

Policy requirement 1: Agencies must prioritise participation opportunities for Queensland ICT SMEs to supply to government

All agencies must adhere to the ICT SME participation scheme standard to ensure a consistent, transparent and accountable approach for ICT procurement.

This includes consideration for allocating a minimum of 10 per cent of the 100 per cent total evaluation criteria for the purpose of weighting Queensland SMEs over non-Queensland SMEs and non-SMEs when evaluating offers from a formal approach to market.

Further context around evaluation criteria is outlined in Clause 5.2 and Appendix A of the ICT SME participation scheme standard.

Issue and review

Issue date:30 July 2021
Next review date: July 2023

This QGEA policy is published within the QGEA and is administered by the Queensland Government Customer and Digital Group (QGCDG). It was developed by the QGCDG (ICT Strategic Sourcing Unit) and approved by the Director General, Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy.

Implementation

This policy comes into effect from the issue date.

Reporting requirements

This policy has specific reporting requirements. Agencies must submit, to ICTStrategicSourcing@qld.gov.au:

SME and Indigenous Access Incentive Reporting requirementDue date*

Agencies must report awards made to Queensland SMEs and Australian Indigenous suppliers under the SME and Indigenous Access incentive where an ICT supplier has provided solutions and/or services up to the value of $500,000 (inclusive of GST). In order to assess the benefits of this change to the SME Scheme policy the following information is required and will be requested via the SME and Indigenous Access Incentive Reporting template:

  • date of award
  • total value of award
  • supplier name
  • SME status
  • Indigenous status
  • overview of the solution and/or service key business benefit of the delivered solution and/or service
Quarterly March, June, September, December

* Due dates may change depending on government commitments and priorities at the time.

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Last updated:
7 December 2022