Meeting papers

COUNCIL POLICY

1.   SOUND CONTRACTING PRINCIPLES

Council officers must have regard to the following sound contracting principles in all procurement
and disposal activities noting however, that equal consideration is not required to be given to each
of the sound contracting principles.

a)     Value for money

Council must harness its purchasing power to achieve the best value for money. The concept of
value for money is not restricted to price alone. The value for money assessment includes
consideration of:
•    contribution to the advancement of Council’s priorities
•    fit for purpose, quality services and support,
•    whole-of-life costs including costs of acquiring, using, maintaining and disposal,
•    internal administration costs
•    technical compliance issues
•    risk exposure
•    the value of any associated environmental/sustainability benefits.

b)   Open and effective competition

Procurement activity should be open and result in effective competition in the provision of goods
and services. Council must give fair and equitable consideration to all respondents.

c)   The development of competitive local business and industry

Where price, performance, quality, suitability and other evaluation criteria are comparable, the
following areas may be considered, in regard to this principle, when evaluating offers:
•    creation of local employment opportunities
•    direct and indirect contribution to the local economy, and community
•    more readily available servicing support
•    the benefit to Council of an associated local commercial transaction.

d)   Environmental protection

Council promotes environmental protection through its procurement procedures. In undertaking any
purchasing activities, Council may consider but is not limited to, the following:
•    promote the purchase of environmentally friendly goods and services that satisfy value for
     money criteria
•    foster the development of products and processes of low environmental and climatic impact
•    include in procurement decision making goods and services that contribute to achieving
     Council’s zero emission organisational strategy
•    provide an example to business, industry and the community by promoting the use of
     climatically and environmentally friendly goods and services, and
•    encourage environmentally responsible activities.
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