A parliamentary question regarding the awarding of a consultancy contract for the Augusta-Walpole coastal strategy to a non-local company, despite a 'buy local' policy. The Minister explains the policy's application and announces a review.

AnsweredQoN 1360Legislative Council
Asked
16 October 2003
Portfolio
Planning and Infrastructure

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the provision of consultancy services for the Augusta-Walpole coastal strategy. (1) Given that this Government has a policy of preferring local tenders, why was the contract awarded to Environmental Resource Management Australia Pty Ltd? (2) Why was the company Smithson Planning, which is based within the locality of that coastal region and has local knowledge and experience, not given the tender when it met all the requirements? Hon KEN TRAVERS

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The buy local policy applies monetary preferences to businesses located within prescribed distances of the purchase or contract point of delivery. Although the study is for the Augusta-Walpole coastal region, the contract point of delivery is the Western Australian Planning Commission in Perth. Accordingly, the regional monetary preference does not apply. The minister has asked the WAPC to review the way it applies this policy to give more opportunity to regionally based consultants. (2) The contract was awarded to the company that demonstrated within its submission best value for money, taking into consideration not only price but also the organisation’s capability and previous experience, adequacy of proposed approach and methodology, experience and qualifications of specified personnel and knowledge of coastal planning. On 11 September 2003 Smithson Planning was offered a debrief providing feedback on the assessment of its tender submission.
(1) Given that this Government has a policy of preferring local tenders, why was the contract awarded to Environmental Resource Management Australia Pty Ltd? (2) Why was the company Smithson Planning, which is based within the locality of that coastal region and has local knowledge and experience, not given the tender when it met all the requirements? Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The buy local policy applies monetary preferences to businesses located within prescribed distances of the purchase or contract point of delivery. Although the study is for the Augusta-Walpole coastal region, the contract point of delivery is the Western Australian Planning Commission in Perth. Accordingly, the regional monetary preference does not apply. The minister has asked the WAPC to review the way it applies this policy to give more opportunity to regionally based consultants. (2) The contract was awarded to the company that demonstrated within its submission best value for money, taking into consideration not only price but also the organisation’s capability and previous experience, adequacy of proposed approach and methodology, experience and qualifications of specified personnel and knowledge of coastal planning. On 11 September 2003 Smithson Planning was offered a debrief providing feedback on the assessment of its tender submission.
(2) Why was the company Smithson Planning, which is based within the locality of that coastal region and has local knowledge and experience, not given the tender when it met all the requirements? Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The buy local policy applies monetary preferences to businesses located within prescribed distances of the purchase or contract point of delivery. Although the study is for the Augusta-Walpole coastal region, the contract point of delivery is the Western Australian Planning Commission in Perth. Accordingly, the regional monetary preference does not apply. The minister has asked the WAPC to review the way it applies this policy to give more opportunity to regionally based consultants. (2) The contract was awarded to the company that demonstrated within its submission best value for money, taking into consideration not only price but also the organisation’s capability and previous experience, adequacy of proposed approach and methodology, experience and qualifications of specified personnel and knowledge of coastal planning. On 11 September 2003 Smithson Planning was offered a debrief providing feedback on the assessment of its tender submission.
Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The buy local policy applies monetary preferences to businesses located within prescribed distances of the purchase or contract point of delivery. Although the study is for the Augusta-Walpole coastal region, the contract point of delivery is the Western Australian Planning Commission in Perth. Accordingly, the regional monetary preference does not apply. The minister has asked the WAPC to review the way it applies this policy to give more opportunity to regionally based consultants. (2) The contract was awarded to the company that demonstrated within its submission best value for money, taking into consideration not only price but also the organisation’s capability and previous experience, adequacy of proposed approach and methodology, experience and qualifications of specified personnel and knowledge of coastal planning. On 11 September 2003 Smithson Planning was offered a debrief providing feedback on the assessment of its tender submission.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The buy local policy applies monetary preferences to businesses located within prescribed distances of the purchase or contract point of delivery. Although the study is for the Augusta-Walpole coastal region, the contract point of delivery is the Western Australian Planning Commission in Perth. Accordingly, the regional monetary preference does not apply. The minister has asked the WAPC to review the way it applies this policy to give more opportunity to regionally based consultants. (2) The contract was awarded to the company that demonstrated within its submission best value for money, taking into consideration not only price but also the organisation’s capability and previous experience, adequacy of proposed approach and methodology, experience and qualifications of specified personnel and knowledge of coastal planning. On 11 September 2003 Smithson Planning was offered a debrief providing feedback on the assessment of its tender submission.
(1) The buy local policy applies monetary preferences to businesses located within prescribed distances of the purchase or contract point of delivery. Although the study is for the Augusta-Walpole coastal region, the contract point of delivery is the Western Australian Planning Commission in Perth. Accordingly, the regional monetary preference does not apply. The minister has asked the WAPC to review the way it applies this policy to give more opportunity to regionally based consultants. (2) The contract was awarded to the company that demonstrated within its submission best value for money, taking into consideration not only price but also the organisation’s capability and previous experience, adequacy of proposed approach and methodology, experience and qualifications of specified personnel and knowledge of coastal planning. On 11 September 2003 Smithson Planning was offered a debrief providing feedback on the assessment of its tender submission.
(2) The contract was awarded to the company that demonstrated within its submission best value for money, taking into consideration not only price but also the organisation’s capability and previous experience, adequacy of proposed approach and methodology, experience and qualifications of specified personnel and knowledge of coastal planning. On 11 September 2003 Smithson Planning was offered a debrief providing feedback on the assessment of its tender submission.

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