Council is re-thinking how it manages the procurement of about $500 million worth of goods and services each year.
New procedures, to be introduced in March 2022, will focus on strategic contracting procedures.
Queensland councils are bound by two options for procurement under legislation: default or strategic.
Cr Jacob Heremaia, who heads up a committee overseeing procurement at council, said the city’s use of the default model did not live up to potential.
“Now we’ll be able to develop and implement our own procurement and contracting framework that allows us to identify and capitalise on opportunities,” he said.
“We will be able to better negotiate contracts, speed up the procurement process and create further opportunities for local and indigenous businesses and social enterprises.”
Governance chair Cr Natalie Willcocks said the strategic procedures would be more transparent to the community.
“Council will need to adopt a contracting plan and manual each year that aligns with our annual Operational Plan and Budget, and these will be publicly available,” she said.
“Our procurement team conducted a successful trial of the strategic model in some of Council’s purchasing over a six-month period and made savings for the organisation.
“It will be a milestone for Council to move fully to this model next year in line with our counterparts at Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.”
