Panel of contractors reduced

Baw Baw Shire Council's panel of contractors for minor civil and ancillary works across the shire will be reduced from 16 to 12 under a new contract.
During the tender process, council progressed 25 submissions from 43, prioritising local businesses.
Contractors offering competitive rates, less overlap in capability, and those more suited to minor works were nominated.
All 25 were evaluated and scored according to price (30 per cent), previous relevant experience and performance (25 per cent), capacity and capability (20 per cent), local and social economic benefit (20 per cent) and environmental management and sustainability (5 per cent).
Seven of the shortlisted candidates focused largely on vegetation management and were considered independently of the others, because of the difference in the type of work.
Minor maintenance and renewal of asphalt and road pavements, bulk earthworks, open drainage clearing and underground drainage (pits and pipes) and concrete works also were included.
Council officers sought to streamline the procurement process to complete minor works up to $50,000, without seeking multiple quotes.
Cr Tricia Jones said she held strong reservations about allowing panel contractors to be awarded up to $50,000 without requiring any quotes.
"We must distinguish between true emergencies and standard operations. If a sewer pipe bursts, time is of the essence, obtaining two quotes is clearly unrealistic. For standard non-emergency minor civil works, I see no logical barrier to requiring at least one quote from the preferred tenderers list to guarantee value for our ratepayers' money. Moving forward, I believe we need to review our overarching procurement policy to ensure robust accountability thresholds, remain firmly in place. I'm afraid I can't vote for this as it is."
The estimated expenditure across categories for this panel for the first year is about $2 million.
The total estimated expenditure for the 3-year term is estimated to be about $6 million.
Ensuring ratepayers receive value for money and having good oversight on jobs allocated without multiple quotes was important to financial sustainability, Cr Paul Pratt said.
"The real test will be response times, durable repairs, competitive work orders, and fewer repeat defects."
Cr Jess Hamilton said the panel helped council respond faster and spend less time pushing paperwork around.
"It's practical, it's sensible, and it helps us deliver better outcomes for the community."
A council review of the current panel showed the majority of the work was awarded to eight of the 16 contractors.
This was because they offered lower rates, higher standards of work, positive relationships with council officers while undertaking works and tender evaluations.
Councillors agreed that prioritising local contractors also benefitted the broader community economically and familiarity with local conditions could lead to improved outcomes.