The Small Business Commission (SBC) is calling for feedback from business owners, industry groups and members of the public on how to make it easier for small, medium and regional businesses to sell goods and services to the State Government.
Small Business Commissioner Chris Lamont said the Commission’s survey, being conducted with its discussion paper NSW Government SME and Regional Procurement Policy Discussion Paper, would help guide a review of the regional procurement policy which was introduced two years ago to increase the share of goods and services SMEs and regional businesses sold to Government.
Mr Lamont said feedback from the targeted survey would also be used to develop resources and training to support small businesses and advocate for improvements in Government tendering processes.
Minister for Small Business, Damien Tudehope said the procurement policy required Agencies to first consider buying goods and services from an SME or a regional business for all direct procurements up to $250,000.
“The Small Business Exemption allows Government Agencies to buy directly from small businesses for any purchases up to $50,000 even if there is a mandated whole-of-Government contract in place,” Mr Tudehope said.
“In the 12 months since the policy commenced on 1 February 2019, spend with regional suppliers increased by 19.6 per cent, or $255 million, while spend with SMEs increased by 3.8 per cent, or $337 million, from the previous year,” he said.
Mr Tudehope said the State wanted to provide more opportunities for SMEs and regional businesses to contract with Government and play a bigger role in NSW’s economic recovery.
“I encourage SMEs, industry associations, head suppliers, subcontractors and other interested parties to tell us what they think about the challenges businesses face in supplying to government and to provide suggestions on how it could be improved,” the Minister said.
The SBC’s 16-page discussion paper can be accessed at this PS News link and its survey at this link.
