LGP News - June 2015 

Using all the tools in the shed

Everyone in their day to day business lives needs resources to get the job done. It could be the work laptop or it could be the mobile phone and it could also be the luxury of a fine tip biro. Every now and then I am sure some of you, like me, would appreciate more resources to help make the job easier or to achieve even better results.

As we are all so busy, sometimes it's easy to overlook what is available to us and forget that  there are plenty of other ‘tools in the shed” that you could be accessing that can help you get the job done.

I am of the vintage where technology races on and has made leaps and bounds over the last twenty five years. I still get a laugh in the office when I explain how I reacted when I saw a fax machine work for the first time. I was blown away – thought it was so futuristic. I also recall being told how the computer that put man on the moon was the size of a two acre warehouse. There is now more power in an i-Phone.

Imagine the world without being able to “Google it”. The resources on the internet are genuinely mind blowing. Other newer resources such as LinkedIn, Meet Up, even Outlook and Viber can make business and networking easier to run.

Where am I going with all of this?

Well at LGP we have been building a series of tools for the procurement shed for quite some time however I am not sure everyone knows about them and sometimes in our busy lives, it is easy to overlook some of the tools we have at our disposal.

Are you aware of all the tools that LGP makes available to YOU free of charge? I know even I sometimes need to stop and reflect upon what we have on offer.

Your own procurement tool shed includes:

• An extensive suite of tender documents / templates, ready for your council use
• Network meetings held quarterly where you can meet your peers and discuss matters of interest
• Mentoring program where you can be linked to experienced procurement professional or where YOU can assist those less experienced than yourself
• The LGP website forum – where you can post messages or respond to others needs
• How to purchase tool – a nifty piece of software that can guide council staff as to the best approach to purchasing just about anything
• Free advice. Yes free. Every council has a dedicated experienced Business Manager to assist you. We also have our Contracts Manager and other staff who can assist with loads of free advice on legislation and best practice
• Customer service – yes that’s free too
•  An award winning website – make sure you have a password to get into the good stuff
• A free set of steak knives – sorry only kidding!
• LGP newsletters, bulletins and procurement updates
• Free advice on RFQ / tender documents and policies
• Free training on the use of VendorPanel to maximise the benefits of LGP contracts
• Assistance with  facilitating collaborative meetings with regions of councils
• LGP is now assisting councils with a Special Interest Group (SIG) for Finance / Procurement systems (Civica & Tech 1)

So there you go. I encourage you to make yourself aware of all of these tools, how you can access them and use them to make your next procurement process even more effective.
 
Enjoy your own procurement tool shed and please contact your local LGP Business Manager for more information. 

• Road Maintenance Conference - 24-25 June, Sydney (Michael Robinson, LGP Operations Manager will be presenting on day 1), to view the agenda or register click here.
• Australasian Procurement and Construction Council - category management workshop - 24 July 2015. To view the agenda click here.

LGP Network meetings are facilitated to bring procurement staff from across NSW together, they are a forum to discuss ideas, current issues and where appropriate, work as a team on special projects. Details of the next LGP Network and Special Interest Group (SIG) meeting are below:

Date: Tuesday 16 June
Times: 9.30am to 12.30pm (LGP network)
Times: 1pm to 3pm (SIGs – Civica and Tech1)
Venue: Local Government Centre, Sydney.

The afternoon concurrent sessions are the first meetings of Civica and Tech1 SIGs to bring staff together to work through common issues with finance/procurement systems. These groups have been split into 2 – Civica and Tech 1. If you would like to be involved, please attend these sessions to learn more about what they are about.

View the agenda here.

Register your attendance here.

If you have any ideas on topics or suggestions for the agenda please sent to info@lgp.org.au.

Fit for the Future requires the NSW local government sector to demonstrate how it will continue to strive for efficiencies, financial sustainability and collaboration. Procurement development and collaboration represents one of the most significant opportunities to achieve these goals.

Building on the highly successful Roadmap and Spend Analysis Programs undertaken with over 60 diverse NSW councils over the last three years, LGP and ArcBlue Consulting are very pleased to announce the NSW Local Government Procurement Roadmap and Spend Analysis Programs for 2015/16, open to all NSW councils.

At a time when the probity of council procurement practice is under scrutiny like never before and finding sustainable budget savings and opportunities for regional collaboration are paramount, this program has been designed specifically as a cost-effective way for participating councils to raise their procurement and contract management performance and demonstrate their capacity to deliver savings and collaborative solutions at an individual council and/or regional level.

For further information view the LGP website.

Dial Before You Dig (NSW/ACT) and Workcover are hosting a free tradeshow on safety on 12 June 2015 from 7am till 9pm (three identical sessions - morning 7-11am, afternoon 12-4pm & evening 5-9pm) at Oatlands Golf course, Oatlands NSW.

The audience will be local councils, road authorities, utilities, builders, excavators, plumbers, landscapers and designers.

For more information and registration please see the below links:

Upcoming Dial Before You Dig events

Register for an event 

All councils need insurance and engage in some form of debt recovery that is usually undertaken by external bodies. Some councils in NSW seek quotes from insurance brokers and debt recovery experts rather than calling for public tenders, but this permissible under the Local Government Act 1993 (LGA) and its associated Regulation?

Message to take away

• The statutory requirement for councils to call for public tenders is broad and can only be limited by the exemptions located at section 55(3)
• Just as council calls for tenders from legal service providers so too must they consider calling for tenders from insurance providers
• By engaging with section 55 of the LGA for debt collection your council would satisfy governance and probity requirements of openness and transparency.

To view the article in full, click here.

Call Prevention Partners NSW for further information – 0438 280 621.

Local Government Procurement has been delivering procurement training for over three and half years  and to date over 1700 staff from 145 NSW councils have attended procurement training modules.

• Specification Writing 24 June 2015
• Procurement Training in Parkes 13 - 17 July 2015
• Local Government Purchasing 21 July 2015
• Advanced Purchasing 28 July 2015

Certificate IV in Government (Procurement and Contracting) for Local Government is about to commence and there are limited places still available.

• Block one: 17-19 June
• Block two: 25-26 June
• Block three: 22-24 July
• Block four: 5-7 August

All modules and qualifications are relevant to local government staff.

For more information or to register click here.

Often councils simply do not have the time to undertake tenders to best practice standards. LGP can undertake tenders on behalf of councils on a very competitive fee for service basis. This service ensures that council tenders are undertaken professionally, reducing council risk, ensuring that the process follows best practice principles and providing the desired result in a cost effective manner.

LGP has a consulting team of four dedicated procurement professionals:

1. Robyn McKenzie
2. Kris Wozniak
3. Shalan Rao
4. Sasha Kostic.

Contact the Consulting Team for further information or a free quote.

Did you know?

Not For Profit organisations are eligible customers who may access the majority of LGP contracts.

Those participating in LGP's recent electricity contract achieved outstanding savings for their organisation. If you are aware of any not for profit organisations who would benefit from LGP contracts please contact Michelle Gavri or they are welcome to contact Michelle directly on 02 8270 8712.

LGP advise that the 2015 Electricity and Gas processes are complete.

Stage 1 – Supply of Electricity for Large Sites - Buildings, Facilities, Street Lighting and Green Power was released on 21 April 2015 and closed on 7 May 2015. This process is complete.

Stage 2 – Supply of Electricity for Small Tariff Sites was released on 28 April 2015 and closed on 14 May 2015. This process is complete.

Stage 3 – Supply of Natural Gas for Large Buildings & Facilities and Small Tariff Sites to be released on 5 May 2015 and closed on 21 May 2015. This process is complete.

For further information regarding LGP’s electricity process or queries regarding electricity or utilities, please contact LGP’s Category Manager Utilities, Marie Talevska on 02 8270 8707 or 0477 354 962.

T2.13 E1 Asphaltic Concrete (AC) Materials & Related Services (LGP213) Extension to Panel

(LGP) invites tenders for Standing Offers to supply one or more of the following: Standing Offers to supply: Asphaltic Concrete (AC) Materials & Related Services. (Concrete road repairs; additional ex-bin materials; major & minor road patching; and mill & fill services on a project managed basis).

This request for tender provides an opportunity for additional parties to be appointed as approved panel members. (This process does not affect existing panel members and they do not need to lodge new tender submissions.)

RFT status: Submissions closed on Friday 14 May 2015. This tender is in evaluation.

Tenderers: For information contact the LGP Tender Team.

LGP Buyers: For information contact your LGP Business Manager.

NPN2.11-2 Corporate Wardrobe

Local Buy Pty Ltd, Local Government Procurement Pty Ltd, the Municipal Association of Victoria and Local Government Corporate Services as members of the National Procurement Network (NPN) invites tenders from organisations interested in being appointed to a Preferred Supplier Arrangement for the supply of Corporate Wardrobe.  This is collaborative arrangement between NSW, QLD, VIC and SA. Local Buy Pty Ltd is acting as the lead agency on this process. This RFT required the following goods/services:

Main categories of goods include: suiting, separates, shirting, accessories, knits and casuals and other.

Other items include: blouses, long sleeve shirts, short sleeve shirts, 3/4 length shirts /cardigans, jumpers, corporate chinos, tops / singlets / corporate polo fleece, corporate polo’s, pullovers /corporate shorts, pants, trousers / dresses, skirts / jackets, vests / scarves, ties, belts / other.

Services: corporate logos (embroidered, patch, transfer) / onsite sampling packages / on site fitting services / made to measure / alterations / post pick embroidery / automatic stock replenishment.

The tender closed on Tuesday 10 March 2015.  The electronic tender box opening was witnessed as per legislative requirements.

RFT status: This evaluation for this tender is currently in progress.

Tenderers: For information contact the LGP Tender Team.

LGP Buyers: For information contact your LGP Business Manager.

IT&C Products, Services & Consulting - RFT scheduled for release mid 2015

We are in the scoping phase for this contract. We anticipate a high volume of responses and therefore a long lead time for the contract release in early 2016. The intent is that there will be 15 high level categories with a greater number of sub categories – incorporating those in the existing contracts (IT hardware, IT&C professional services and telecommunications) and any additional categories.

The tender process will be two stage: and expression of interest where all potential tenderers must respond followed by a selective tender for each of the 15 categories.

To assist in the development of the specifications we are engaging an independent consultant for specialist IT&C - R&D and support services.

In the coming weeks we will be contacting councils via survey for feedback and to ascertain their interest in being involved in the working group. This will entail surveys, interviews and forums. All are welcome no matter what time you can afford.

Media Sydney Metropolitan Daily Newspapers & On-line Recruitment (LGP106-2) and Advertising Agencies (LGP406-2) - RFT scheduled for release mid 2015

The current panel has been extended to 31 December 2015. Thank you for your responses to the survey. LGP will commence contacting you in the coming weeks.

Professional Consulting Services (Engineering, Planning, Environment, Community & Assets)(LGP1208-2) - RFT scheduled for release mid 2015

This contract expires 14 February 2016 with no optional extensions. A working group has been established and with their assistance we will begin working on specifications.

For further information contact your LGP Business Manager or Angela O’Dea (nee Tesoriero), Category Manager on 0428 289 878.

Following discussions with NSW Procurement, LGP are able to advise that the State Card Fuel and Associated Products Contract 370 will be extended beyond the original 31 December 2015 expiry date. This means that councils can continue to access fuel cards exactly as they do now with no interruption.

For further information contact your LGP Business Manager or Colin Emerson, Category Manager on 0477 372 265.

Horticultural, Pest, Pool and Water Management (LGP408-2)

Nuturf has updated its pricing schedule, in accordance with its quarterly pricing opportunity.
Living Turf has updated its pricing schedule, in accordance with the contract anniversary.

Small Plant and Outdoor Power Equipment (LGP508-2)

STIHL Pty Ltd has updated its pricing schedule, incorporating changes to the Recommended Retail Price (RRP) of numerous products available under the contract.

IT&C Professional Consulting Services (LGP1008-2)

Computer Systems (Australia) Pty Ltd has added Gammer Consulting Pty Ltd as an authorised subcontractor.

Heavy Plant & Equipment (LGP707-3)

GCM Enviro Pty Ltd has added Liebherr-Australia Pty Ltd as an authorised subcontractor.

Mobile Garbage Bins, Industrial Containers & Bins, Static Compactors, Associated Products and Services (NPN111-2)

Easyquip Pty Ltd has added to its product range and has updated its pricing schedule accordingly.

Telecommunications (LGP407-2)

Telstra Corporation Limited has updated its pricing schedule and has added IMEI Pty Ltd as an authorised subcontractor.

Playground, Open Space and Recreational Infrastructure (LGP308-2)

Playrope Pty Ltd has updated its pricing schedule, in accordance with the contract anniversary.

Supply, Fitting, Maintenance & Recycling of Tyres, Tubes and Automotive & Marine Batteries (NPN1.14)

Bob Jane Corporation Pty Ltd and Michelin Australia Pty Ltd Deeds have been executed and are now available.

Please ensure you refer to the LGP website for the most up to date versions of pricing.

Engineering and Works

• Asphaltic Concrete (AC) Materials & Related Services (LGP213)
• Horticultural, Pest, Pool and Water Management (LGP408-2)
• Pipes, Associated Fixtures, Pumps & Concrete Products (LGP908-2)
• Playground, Open Space and Recreational Infrastructure (LGP308-2)
• Professional Consulting Services (Engineering, Planning, Environment, Community & Assets) LGP1208-2
• Road and Traffic Signage, Associated Hardware and Roadside Products (LGP114)
• Supply of Workwear and Personal Protective Apparel (NPN3.11)
• Traffic Management Services (LGP113).

Fleet and Plant

• Heavy Plant & Equipment (LGP707-3)
• Mobile Garbage Bins, Industrial Containers & Bins, Static Compactors, Associated Products and Services (NPN1.11-2)
• Small Plant & Outdoor Power Equipment (LGP508-2)
• Specialised Truck Bodies & Machines: Waste Collection, Civic Cleaning, Removal and Access (LGP1608-2)
• Trucks for Local Government (Aust.) NPN04-13
• Tyres, Tubes and Automotive Batteries - Fitting and Service (NPN1.14).

Information and Technology

• IT&C Professional Consulting Services (LGP1008-2)
• Microsoft Licensing and Associated Products & Services via Large Account Resellers (LGP108-2)
• Operating Lease Services to cover Information and Communications Technology, Photocopiers, Printers & other Equipment. (LGP1107-2)
• PCs, Notebooks, Servers & Associated Services & Equipment (LGP306-2)
• Telecommunications Services (LGP407-2).

Services

• Corporate Wardrobe (NPN2.11)
• Debt Recovery Services (LGP109-2)
• HR Temporary Placements & Associated Services (LGP808-2)
• Library Books and Resource Materials (LGP507-2)
• Media Sydney Metropolitan Daily Newspapers & On-line Recruitment (LGP106-2) and Advertising Agencies (LGP406-2)
• Office Supplies & Janitorial (including; Heavy Duty Cleaning) & Associated Products (LGP1007-2)
• Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Systems, Equipment, Associated Products & Services (LGP309-2).

Utilities

• Supply of Electricity & Green Power to NSW Councils and eligible Not For Profit Organisations

View the LGP website for further detail or contact your local LGP Business Manager.

HR Temporary Placements & Associated Services (LGP808-2)

Randstad are proud to have worked with NSW local government since 1993. Are you prepared for the 15/16 financial year end?  Randstad offers staffing services in early childhood and education, administration, health & community care, IT, finance, engineering & industrial.

Visit www.randstad.com.au and contact us to reach your local Specialist Consultant.
As always we have a pool of qualified educators available immediately across NSW.

For all your staffing needs call us 24/7 on Early Years (02) 8238 0200 and OOSH (02) 8238 0240.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Systems, Equipment, Associated Products & Services (LGP309-2)

ACRS Diamond Safety Award 2015

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"Simple can be harder than complex:

You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it's worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains."

                      - Steve Jobs