❓ A parliamentary question challenges the WA government's decision to award a public sector stationery contract to overseas-owned companies, questioning its 'Buy Local' policy and pricing transparency. The Treasurer defends the decision based on local operations and cost savings.
AnsweredQoN 1588Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
During the tender process for Tender #12603 for the ‘Supply of Copy Paper, Envelopes and Office Stationery’ for the entire Western Australian public sector, the majority of applicants expressed opposition to the tender being awarded to only one stationery supplier.
Despite this opposition however, the Department of Treasury and Finance recently awarded the tender for the provision of paper and envelopes to the overseas-owned Corporate Express and the provision of stationery supplies to the US-owned Boise Cascade, and I ask -
(1) Can the Treasurer explain how this Government can urge Western Australians to support local businesses in its ‘Buy Local’ campaign on the one hand whilst they themselves turn their backs on local businesses by awarding two overseas-owned companies these contracts?
(2) Can the Treasurer explain why only ‘one’ company was awarded the tender for the provision of stationery supplies to WA Government Departments?
(3) Can the Treasurer confirm that Boise Cascade has quoted fixed prices for only 1700 items (from a market of around 100,000 or so stationery products) in this contract?
(4) How will the Treasurer ensure that Boise Cascade will provide all the products that haven’t been quoted in the contract, at a fair and reasonable price?
(5) Will the Minister table the DTF’s contracts with both Boise Cascade and Corporate Express?
Despite this opposition however, the Department of Treasury and Finance recently awarded the tender for the provision of paper and envelopes to the overseas-owned Corporate Express and the provision of stationery supplies to the US-owned Boise Cascade, and I ask -
(1) Can the Treasurer explain how this Government can urge Western Australians to support local businesses in its ‘Buy Local’ campaign on the one hand whilst they themselves turn their backs on local businesses by awarding two overseas-owned companies these contracts?
(2) Can the Treasurer explain why only ‘one’ company was awarded the tender for the provision of stationery supplies to WA Government Departments?
(3) Can the Treasurer confirm that Boise Cascade has quoted fixed prices for only 1700 items (from a market of around 100,000 or so stationery products) in this contract?
(4) How will the Treasurer ensure that Boise Cascade will provide all the products that haven’t been quoted in the contract, at a fair and reasonable price?
(5) Will the Minister table the DTF’s contracts with both Boise Cascade and Corporate Express?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
2 March 2004
Responded by
Minister for Housing and Works representing the Treasurer
Response time
83 days
The tenders were evaluated in accordance with all the Buy Local Policy requirements. Boise Office Solutions and Corporate Express have been operating in Western Australia for many years, and employ many local people. The bids from Boise Office Solutions and Corporate Express were received from their local Perth office, and warehousing, distribution and contract management will be delivered locally. (2) The tender requested suppliers to bid their prices on the basis of being selected on a panel of one, two or three contractors. Substantial additional savings were provided by Boise on the basis of being a sole supplier to government on the stationery contract. It should be noted that the Department of Education and Training has its own stationery contract, which has a similar annual turnover. (3) No. Boise Office Solutions has quoted fixed prices for all stationery offered on the contract. This comprises approximately 3,000 line items, of which 797 are the preferred range of stationery which agencies should standardise on to derive additional value. (4) Boise Office Solutions can only provide the stationery offered and accepted on the contract. Where agencies require stationery outside of this range, they can approach other suppliers in the Western Australian market in accordance with State Supply Commission policy. (5) Yes. The Minister will table the tender request, letters of award and the price schedule accepted for all products on Contract 12603.
Boise Office Solutions and Corporate Express have been operating in Western Australia for many years, and employ many local people. The bids from Boise Office Solutions and Corporate Express were received from their local Perth office, and warehousing, distribution and contract management will be delivered locally. (2) The tender requested suppliers to bid their prices on the basis of being selected on a panel of one, two or three contractors. Substantial additional savings were provided by Boise on the basis of being a sole supplier to government on the stationery contract. It should be noted that the Department of Education and Training has its own stationery contract, which has a similar annual turnover. (3) No. Boise Office Solutions has quoted fixed prices for all stationery offered on the contract. This comprises approximately 3,000 line items, of which 797 are the preferred range of stationery which agencies should standardise on to derive additional value. (4) Boise Office Solutions can only provide the stationery offered and accepted on the contract. Where agencies require stationery outside of this range, they can approach other suppliers in the Western Australian market in accordance with State Supply Commission policy. (5) Yes. The Minister will table the tender request, letters of award and the price schedule accepted for all products on Contract 12603.
(2) The tender requested suppliers to bid their prices on the basis of being selected on a panel of one, two or three contractors. Substantial additional savings were provided by Boise on the basis of being a sole supplier to government on the stationery contract. It should be noted that the Department of Education and Training has its own stationery contract, which has a similar annual turnover. (3) No. Boise Office Solutions has quoted fixed prices for all stationery offered on the contract. This comprises approximately 3,000 line items, of which 797 are the preferred range of stationery which agencies should standardise on to derive additional value. (4) Boise Office Solutions can only provide the stationery offered and accepted on the contract. Where agencies require stationery outside of this range, they can approach other suppliers in the Western Australian market in accordance with State Supply Commission policy. (5) Yes. The Minister will table the tender request, letters of award and the price schedule accepted for all products on Contract 12603.
It should be noted that the Department of Education and Training has its own stationery contract, which has a similar annual turnover. (3) No. Boise Office Solutions has quoted fixed prices for all stationery offered on the contract. This comprises approximately 3,000 line items, of which 797 are the preferred range of stationery which agencies should standardise on to derive additional value. (4) Boise Office Solutions can only provide the stationery offered and accepted on the contract. Where agencies require stationery outside of this range, they can approach other suppliers in the Western Australian market in accordance with State Supply Commission policy. (5) Yes. The Minister will table the tender request, letters of award and the price schedule accepted for all products on Contract 12603.
(3) No. Boise Office Solutions has quoted fixed prices for all stationery offered on the contract. This comprises approximately 3,000 line items, of which 797 are the preferred range of stationery which agencies should standardise on to derive additional value. (4) Boise Office Solutions can only provide the stationery offered and accepted on the contract. Where agencies require stationery outside of this range, they can approach other suppliers in the Western Australian market in accordance with State Supply Commission policy. (5) Yes. The Minister will table the tender request, letters of award and the price schedule accepted for all products on Contract 12603.
(4) Boise Office Solutions can only provide the stationery offered and accepted on the contract. Where agencies require stationery outside of this range, they can approach other suppliers in the Western Australian market in accordance with State Supply Commission policy. (5) Yes. The Minister will table the tender request, letters of award and the price schedule accepted for all products on Contract 12603.
(5) Yes. The Minister will table the tender request, letters of award and the price schedule accepted for all products on Contract 12603.
Boise Office Solutions and Corporate Express have been operating in Western Australia for many years, and employ many local people. The bids from Boise Office Solutions and Corporate Express were received from their local Perth office, and warehousing, distribution and contract management will be delivered locally. (2) The tender requested suppliers to bid their prices on the basis of being selected on a panel of one, two or three contractors. Substantial additional savings were provided by Boise on the basis of being a sole supplier to government on the stationery contract. It should be noted that the Department of Education and Training has its own stationery contract, which has a similar annual turnover. (3) No. Boise Office Solutions has quoted fixed prices for all stationery offered on the contract. This comprises approximately 3,000 line items, of which 797 are the preferred range of stationery which agencies should standardise on to derive additional value. (4) Boise Office Solutions can only provide the stationery offered and accepted on the contract. Where agencies require stationery outside of this range, they can approach other suppliers in the Western Australian market in accordance with State Supply Commission policy. (5) Yes. The Minister will table the tender request, letters of award and the price schedule accepted for all products on Contract 12603.
(2) The tender requested suppliers to bid their prices on the basis of being selected on a panel of one, two or three contractors. Substantial additional savings were provided by Boise on the basis of being a sole supplier to government on the stationery contract. It should be noted that the Department of Education and Training has its own stationery contract, which has a similar annual turnover. (3) No. Boise Office Solutions has quoted fixed prices for all stationery offered on the contract. This comprises approximately 3,000 line items, of which 797 are the preferred range of stationery which agencies should standardise on to derive additional value. (4) Boise Office Solutions can only provide the stationery offered and accepted on the contract. Where agencies require stationery outside of this range, they can approach other suppliers in the Western Australian market in accordance with State Supply Commission policy. (5) Yes. The Minister will table the tender request, letters of award and the price schedule accepted for all products on Contract 12603.
It should be noted that the Department of Education and Training has its own stationery contract, which has a similar annual turnover. (3) No. Boise Office Solutions has quoted fixed prices for all stationery offered on the contract. This comprises approximately 3,000 line items, of which 797 are the preferred range of stationery which agencies should standardise on to derive additional value. (4) Boise Office Solutions can only provide the stationery offered and accepted on the contract. Where agencies require stationery outside of this range, they can approach other suppliers in the Western Australian market in accordance with State Supply Commission policy. (5) Yes. The Minister will table the tender request, letters of award and the price schedule accepted for all products on Contract 12603.
(3) No. Boise Office Solutions has quoted fixed prices for all stationery offered on the contract. This comprises approximately 3,000 line items, of which 797 are the preferred range of stationery which agencies should standardise on to derive additional value. (4) Boise Office Solutions can only provide the stationery offered and accepted on the contract. Where agencies require stationery outside of this range, they can approach other suppliers in the Western Australian market in accordance with State Supply Commission policy. (5) Yes. The Minister will table the tender request, letters of award and the price schedule accepted for all products on Contract 12603.
(4) Boise Office Solutions can only provide the stationery offered and accepted on the contract. Where agencies require stationery outside of this range, they can approach other suppliers in the Western Australian market in accordance with State Supply Commission policy. (5) Yes. The Minister will table the tender request, letters of award and the price schedule accepted for all products on Contract 12603.
(5) Yes. The Minister will table the tender request, letters of award and the price schedule accepted for all products on Contract 12603.
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