Social Procurement: A Guide for Victorian Local Government (Australia)

Social Procurement: A Guide for Victorian Local Government

Published by the Department of Planning and Community Development.
October 2010 (Authorised by the Victorian Government, Melbourne)

www.localgovernment.vic.gov.au

Why has this guide been developed?

A Guide for Victorian Local Government (the guide) has been developed to support Victorian councils [in Australia] in their desire to deliver stronger social outcomes through procurement. The guide is closely aligned with Social Procurement in Australia, an overarching national paper commissioned by the Centre for Social Impact.

The guide forms part of the Procurement Excellence program that is being led by Local Government Victoria through the Councils Reforming Business program, supporting the development of good practice procurement across the local government sector.

What is in the guide?

Building on the experience of local government and other public entities in Victoria who are already embracing social procurement, the guide examines the various elements and processes of effective social procurement.

The guide intends to generate greater levels of discussion and debate about the role of social procurement in local government. The guide aims to:

• build on current policy and procedures

• identify social procurement opportunities

• highlight associated benefits

• offer legal guidance and additional resources

• provide case studies and sample contract clauses

• dispel commonly held misconceptions surrounding social procurement

• assist councils in building a business case for social procurement.