| Government Procurement Update
On-line ‘How to do Business with Government’ Guidelines Treasury is currently undertaking a project to develop an on-line ‘How to do Business with Government’ guidance system. The aim of the project is to provide Tasmanian businesses with brief, practical answers to ‘How to do Business with Government’ type questions. This project is one of a number of initiatives aimed at helping Tasmanian businesses to compete more effectively for Government business. Prologic Pty Ltd has been engaged to undertake the initial design phase of the system. An important component of this initial phase has been ongoing consultation with Tasmanian businesses to determine the information businesses require in order to submit tenders and to deal with Government. Tenders will be called to construct and launch the guidance system, following the completion of the design phase in December 2000. Tasmanian businesses will continue to be consulted throughout the construction phase of the project. The ‘How to do Business with Government’ guidance system will be available on the Purchasing.tas Website at <www.purchasing.tas.gov.au>, by the end of March 2001. Contact: Penny Macintyre on 03 6233 3677 or email penny.macintyre@treasury.tas.gov.au In 1999, the Tasmanian Government introduced a policy banning Government agencies from purchasing ‘dumped goods’ or goods that are suspected of being ‘dumped’ and which are being investigated by the Australian Customs Service (ACS). ‘Dumped goods’ are goods sold for export at a price below their ‘normal value’. Usually ‘normal value’ means the price of the product in the domestic market of the exporting country. The Government has banned agencies from purchasing ‘dumped goods’, or goods that are suspected of being ‘dumped’, in order to protect local industry and ensure that local businesses do not have to compete unfairly against overseas competitors. Each Government agency is responsible for determining the status of goods that have been imported from overseas. The ACS posts a list of ‘dumped goods’, and goods under investigation, on its website at < http://www.customs.gov.au >. Government agencies should be particularly careful when purchasing A4 copying paper. At present, the ACS includes A4 paper from the following countries on its ‘dumped goods’ list:
The Australian Customs Service is also investigating A4 paper imported from Indonesia. Before purchasing, agencies need to make sure that they have checked the ACS Website and determined the status of A4 paper originating from any of the countries named above. Contact: Penny Macintyre on 03 6233 3677 or email penny.macintyre@treasury.tas.gov.au A whole-of-Government common use contract has recently been established for an Equipment Lease Facility. The ‘Leasing Finance Facility’ (Contract L300) provides agencies with access to operating lease finance for computers and office equipment. The tender specifications for the Facility were prepared in consultation with Crown Law, the Auditor-General, and members of an inter-agency Evaluation Group. Following a competitive tender process, Australian Integrated Finance Pty Ltd and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia were appointed as shared contractors. The facility will enable agencies to obtain operating lease finance from the contractors for the following categories of equipment:
The new lease arrangement is for a three year period, with a two year option to extend. It replaces the previous contract with Kimberley Finance Pty Ltd and IBM Australia Credit Limited which expired on 25 June 2000. A User Guide for each contractor has been distributed to inner-Budget agencies. Additional copies are available on request. Contact: Bob Lawson on 03 6233 2301 or email bob.lawson@treasury.tas.gov.au Private Sector Participation in Public Infrastructure Provision In July 2000, the Government released a policy statement, and guidelines, on private sector participation in the provision of public infrastructure. By issuing the policy statement and guidelines, the Government is indicating its strong commitment to maintaining and improving Tasmanian public infrastructure. The publications provide a clear framework - and detail - regarding the Government’s objectives in seeking private sector involvement in infrastructure development. The ‘Policy Statement’ paper outlines the framework within which the public sector seeks and develops infrastructure opportunities with the private sector. The ‘Guiding Principles’ paper is a detailed document aimed at managers in agencies. It provides a clear set of ‘ground rules’ for optimising the participation of the private sector in the provision of public infrastructure. The ‘Guiding Principles’ paper:
The private sector is expected to increase its involvement in the provision of public infrastructure as it responds to the additional clarity in the objectives of the Government provided by the release of the Government policy. The titles of the two publications are:
.To access these publications click on the title. Contact: Pam Marriott on 03 6233 6172 or email pam.marriott@treasury.tas.gov.au
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