Purchasing changes
to favour SMEs

New rules that simplify requirements for small and medium sized businesses to win Government contracts have been announced by the Public Sector ICT Development Office.
   Executive Director of the Office, Terry Bietz said amendments to the ICT Small to Medium Enterprise (SME) Participation Scheme had been approved by the Premier.
   Mr Bietz said among the changes to the scheme the definition of small and medium enterprises would change from a business with fewer than 500 staff to one employing less than 200, to align with the Australian Bureau of Statistics definition.

Smaller businesses get breaks

   “Now, when evaluating tenders, Government Officers will apply the SME participation score to contribute up to 10 per cent to the final evaluation score across all contracts,” Mr Bietz said.
   “This simplification replaces the complex process where the percentage varied based on certain conditions.”
   He said firms would no longer need to submit Industry Development Questionnaires as part of the offer process because the Government Information Technology Contracting Framework (GITC) accreditation process would manage that aspect of the process.
   Mr Bietz said in addition, the Government’s e-tendering website would publish the successful supplier for each tender and the SME participation percentage, if relevant.
   “The changes are intended to reduce the information required from industry when making an offer, streamline the evaluation process by Agencies and improve transparency and accountability of the scheme,” he said.  
   “We are committed to ensuring equitable participation by small to medium enterprises in the Government marketplace and making sure the necessary processes involved are practical, transparent and accountable.”
   Mr Bietz said for purchases under $150,000, Agencies would be required to demonstrate they had undertaken a market assessment to identify appropriate SMEs and must seek offers from at least two.