❓ Mr. Love questions the transition of the Small Business Development Corporation Business Local Service in regional WA after RSM's departure. The answer confirms a new provider, IPS Management Consultants, was procured to avoid service disruption, highlighting their regional focus and Aboriginal ownership.
AnsweredQoN 1144Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the recent announcement that RSM will cease delivering the Small Business Development Corporation Business Local Service across the Pilbara, Midwest, Gascoyne, and Wheatbelt regions as of 30 June 2024, and I ask: (a) What immediate actions are being taken to ensure there is no disruption to services for small businesses in these regions; and (b) Has the tender for these services been reallocated to an alternative provider, and if so, which provider has been selected: (i) Is the alternative provider regionally located: (A) If no, what reasoning did the Government use to select a non-regional provider over a regional one for this tender; and (ii) If no tender, will the Government ensure that the new tender is awarded to a regional provider to maintain local expertise and responsiveness to our regional communities?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
10 September 2024
Responded by
Minister representing the Minister for Small Business
Response time
6 days
(a) The Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) was able to procure a suitably qualified service provider to commence delivery of the SBDC Regional service across the Pilbara, Mid West/Gacoyne and Wheatbelt regions from 1 July 2024. This has ensured the business advisory services have not been disrupted during this period. The new service provider, IPS Management Consultants have recruited locally based advisers in each region, and they have been actively establishing the service since the launch of SBDC Regional.
(b)IPS Management Consultants, a Western Australian Aboriginal owned business, had previously submitted an offer for each of these regions and had ranked highly by the evaluation panel in each region against the qualitative and value for money criteria. The Department of Finance oversaw the procurement via APP and ensured the process followed by the SBDC was compliant with State government procurement policy.
i. IPS Management Consultants are a regionally based organisation;
(A) N/A.
ii. N/A.
(b)IPS Management Consultants, a Western Australian Aboriginal owned business, had previously submitted an offer for each of these regions and had ranked highly by the evaluation panel in each region against the qualitative and value for money criteria. The Department of Finance oversaw the procurement via APP and ensured the process followed by the SBDC was compliant with State government procurement policy.
i. IPS Management Consultants are a regionally based organisation;
(A) N/A.
ii. N/A.
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