The City of Gold Coast conducts all procurement and contracting activities in accordance with the Strategic Contracting Procedures (as defined in the Local Government Regulation 2012 Chapter 6, Part 2).
Sound contracting principles
The City complies to the sound contracting principles defined in Section 104 of the Local Government Act 2009:
- value for money
- open and effective competition
- the development of competitive local business and industry
- environmental protection
- ethical behaviour and fair dealing.
The City generally procures goods and/or services
and the disposal of non-current assets through either an open market (public invitation for tender) or a closed market (invited quotes) process.
The Procurement Policy & Contract Manual(PDF, 666KB)
provides for circumstances where it may not be advantageous or practical for the City to seek competitive offers, resulting in a sole or single source process. The City Contracting Plan(PDF, 1MB)
details the categories for contracting exemptions (Appendix 1). The City Contracting Plan is updated quarterly.
Spend thresholds
The City generally invites offers in accordance with the requirements of the spend thresholds outlined below.
| Quote process (closed market activities) |
Contracts with expected worth of up to $250,000 (ex. GST) (issued to local suppliers in the first instance) |
|
Up to $10,000 ex. GST |
At least one written offer |
| More than $10,000 but less than $50,000 ex. GST |
At least 2 written offers |
| More than $50,000 but less than $250,000 ex. GST |
At least 3 written offers |
| TENDER process (Open market activities) |
Contracts with expected worth of more than $250,000 (ex. GST) |
|
More than $250,000 ex. GST
|
Public invitations to offer (tender)
|
For further information on contract worth spend thresholds and methods of procurement, read the City Contracting Plan(PDF, 1MB)
Public invitation to offer (tenders)
Public invitations to offer (tenders) may be advertised via any of the following methods:
- The City's website
- VendorPanel
- Gold Coast Bulletin (optional)
- Saturday edition of the Brisbane Courier Mail and/or other media (optional).
The invitation to offer document will contain details on the required method for responding.
Invited quotes
Quotes are generally requested through a closed market process but can also be requested via a public invitation to offer.
The following are recommended for businesses looking for opportunities to supply to the City:
- registering as a potential supplier on VendorPanel
- reviewing the annual City Contracting Plan(PDF, 1MB)
for a list of planned procurement activities for the current financial year. The plan is updated quarterly.
Expression of interest
An expression of interest (EOI) process is used where there is an insufficient understanding of the capability of the supply market to provide the required goods and/or services. It is carried out as a multi-staged process; the EOI followed by an invited offer process.
The initial EOI stage is generally advertised publicly. Once the first stage of the process has been completed, a short-list of successful respondents may be further invited to offer.
Request for information
Requests for information (RFIs) are generally used when there is a need to gather more information about the size, capacity and capability of the market to satisfy a particular procurement requirement and outcome.
The City may utilise an RFI process to assist in decisions regarding potential structures for a subsequent procurement process. RFIs are not used as a basis to enter into a contractual agreement with a supplier, and unlike an EOI, RFIs do not have to be advertised publicly.
Single or sole sourcing
The City may enter into a contract without first inviting competitive offers for particular situations or categories of spend where it would be impractical or disadvantageous to invite quotes or tenders as follows:
1. Single source – examples include ongoing licencing, support and maintenance to existing systems, continuity of expert advice, confidentiality
2. Sole source – examples include where only one supplier is reasonably available, proprietary brands or items, legislated requirements, procuring from an existing City arrangement
3. Procuring under a government arrangement (e.g. Federal government, state government or another local government) or a Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) arrangement
4. Where a genuine emergency exists
5. The contract is for the procurement of goods made by auction or second-hand goods.
For more information refer to the City's Procurement Policy & Contract Manual(PDF, 666KB) and the City Contracting Plan(PDF, 1MB)
Local government arrangements (LGAs)
The City may use local buy arrangements, commonly referred to as local government arrangements (LGAs), for the procurement of goods and/or services and the disposal of non-current assets.
LGAs can be used without first inviting competitive offers.
Register on VendorPanel to access current local buy arrangements.
Significant contract
A significant contract is defined as a contract which is deemed significant in accordance with an anticipated worth more than $10 million or being a high-value, high-criticality, high-complexity or high-risk procurement.
A significant contracting plan will be developed and adopted by Council prior to going to market for each significant contract.
View our City Contracting Plan(PDF, 1MB)
and Tender opportunities page for opportunities.
Pre-qualified suppliers
A pre-qualified supplier is a supplier that the City has assessed as having the technical, financial and managerial capabilities to perform contracts in accordance with the agreed requirements.
A register of pre-qualified suppliers is established via a public invitation to offer process. The City will determine when to approach the market in the management of pre-qualified suppliers.
Once a register of pre-qualified suppliers has been established, further quotes from suppliers may be requested.
View our City Contracting Plan(PDF, 1MB)
and Tender opportunities page for opportunities.
Preferred supplier arrangements
The City may establish a preferred supplier arrangement, where the goods and/or services are required in large volumes, on a frequent basis, or where better value for money can be achieved by accumulating the demand.
Preferred supplier arrangements are established through a public invitation to offer process.
Once the preferred supplier arrangement is established, further quotes from suppliers may be requested.
View our City Contracting Plan(PDF, 1MB)
and Tender opportunities page for opportunities.