Procurement Best Practice Guidelines

The Victorian Local Government Best Practice Procurement Guidelines 2013 will help Victorian councils and regional library corporations understand their obligations under the Local Government Act 1989.

The Guidelines

The Guidelines can be used by both local government procurement specialists and by staff engaged in routine procurement activities.

The refreshed Guidelines detail legislative requirements. They also detail various stages of the procurement process: planning, implementation, management, evaluation and reporting on procurement.

2013 Local Government Best Practice Procurement Guidelines (PDF, 1.5 MB)
2013 Local Government Best Practice Procurement guidelines (DOC, 1.2 MB)

Ministerial Approved Arrangements – application form

The Minister has discretionary power to grant an approval under section 186(5)(c) of the Act. Before exercising that power, the Minister must be satisfied that there are sound reasons to do so.

LGV has developed an application form to assist councils seeking Ministerial Approval under section 186(5)(c) of the Local Government Act 1989 (Act).

Regional Procurement Excellence Networks

The Regional Procurement Excellence Networks (RPENs) are a sound platform for local governments to collaborate on procurement and general business practices.

The RPEN groups, each represented by a procurement officer, are:

  • Barwon South West
  • Eastern Metropolitan
  • Gippsland
  • Grampians Wimmera
  • Hume
  • Loddon Mallee
  • North West Metropolitan
  • South Metropolitan

The RPENS meet 3-4 times a year. They foster officer engagement and support local governments in joint procurement and other collaborative activities..

LGPro, the local government professionals association, has a Special Interest Group in procurement. LGPro is a central coordinating point for the RPENs. 

Visit the LGPro Special Interest Group Procurement website

A report detailing RPEN activity throughout 2016:

For more information about RPENs, please contact: Leighton Vivian, Manager Policy Development: leighton.vivian@delwp.vic.gov.au

Access to Victorian Government contracts

Access to Victorian Government contracts

The 2009 Local Government Procurement Strategy recommended that local government gained access to a range of state government contracts.

The Minister for Local Government has approved arrangements under section 186(5)(c) of the Local Government Act 1989. This allows council access to State Purchase Contracts (SPCs), Whole of Victorian Government (WoVG) Contracts and the Construction Suppliers Register (CSR).

Access to these contracts gives councils and regional libraries the buying power of the State Government in the confidence that the contracts have been developed through the best procurement processes.

Councils and regional libraries should consider whether use of Victorian Government contracts is the best approach for each purchase. Councils and regional library corporations must adhere to the specific rules associated with each Victorian government contract.

Victorian Government Purchasing Board’s Buyers section provides procurement resources, templates and guidance.

State Purchase Contracts and Whole of Victorian Government Contracts

SPCs and WoVG Contracts are standing offer agreements for Victorian Government common use goods and services. These are established when collective demand offers the best value for money.

A number of individual contracts and panel arrangements are currently available to councils and regional libraries. As details on SPCs and WoVGs are regularly updated, councils and regional libraries should refer to the Victorian Government Purchasing Board for current information.

Construction Supplier Register

The Construction Supplier Register (CSR) is a pre-qualification scheme for building and construction industry consultants and contractors.

The CSR brochure provides further information about the associated administration fees and access.

Requirements for Council Access to Victorian Government Contracts

The State Purchase Contracts, Whole of Victorian Government Contracts and the Construction Supplier Register must be accessed in accordance with the State Purchase Contracts Policy and the approval instruments set out below: