How suppliers work with the Social Procurement Framework

Social procurement benefits organisations

Engaging in social procurement increases an organisation's competitiveness to bid for government work and helps build a more inclusive, diverse, capable and productive workforce.

Government wants to do business with suppliers who adopt social procurement

Through social procurement, the Victorian government is committed to prioritising its expenditure to deliver positive social, economic and environmental outcomes. With an ambitious government agenda to create a fairer and more sustainable victoria, this focus will only grow stronger.

How the Victorian Government is engaging industry and suppliers around social procurement

The Victorian Government engaged industry and suppliers to increase their awareness and understanding of the Social Procurement Framework. In 2018-19, the Government undertook a range of activities to support the implementation of the framework, and to maximise take up of social procurement. These activities included presentations with:

• the Major Transport Infrastructure Authority and Jobs Victoria to support inclusive employment for major projects;
• the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Australian Industry Group on aligning Social Procurement Framework support to small and medium-sized enterprises;
• Lendlease and the Level Crossing Removal Project to discuss opportunities for new social enterprises on major projects;
• Think Impact about measuring the value of metro tunnel social procurement and workforce development;
• other key stakeholders such as the DWS Group, Western Water, Grow Ballarat and the Australian Industry Improvement Association.

Targeted support for industry and suppliers in regional Victoria has been undertaken. this has included the Victorian Government in collaboration with Social Traders, facilitating the social procurement in regional Victoria event series in March 2019. This consisted of six events delivered in Shepparton, Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Traralgon and Wodonga to inform suppliers and government buyers about the framework.

The Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions has undertaken further engagement to support industry to understand the application of the Local Jobs First and the Social Procurement Framework. As part of this engagement, the department hosted seven briefings during march and may 2019. further presentations have also been provided at local jobs first events.

In addition to the above, information stalls were hosted at several industry expos and showcases in 2018-19. The Government is committed to strengthening state-wide industry and supplier engagement throughout 2019-20.

This will include further participation in industry forums and targeted engagement with industry and suppliers through peak bodies, tier 1 and tier 2 suppliers and intermediaries. Information will be promoted through relevant communication channels, for example in newsletters of industry or peak bodies.

How the Victorian Government prioritises social procurement

In 2018-19 the Social Procurement Framework applied to all Victorian Government departments and core agencies. This number will grow significantly in 2019-20 as more than 260 additional government agencies apply the Framework to their procurement activities. As part of the application of the Framework, each department and agency identifies priority social procurement objectives. This provides suppliers with useful information about the priorities for the coming year.

The list below shows the objectives prioritised by each of the departments and core agencies in 2019-20.

Environment, Land, Water and Planning

Prioritised objectives:

• Sustainable Victorian social enterprise and Aboriginal business sectors
• Environmentally sustainable outputs
• Environmentally sustainable business practices

Education and Training

Prioritised objectives:

• Opportunities for Victorian Aboriginal people
• Women's equality and safety
• Opportunities for disadvantaged Victorians
• Supporting safe and fair workplaces
• Environmentally sustainable outputs

Health and Human Services

Prioritised objectives:

• Opportunities for Victorian Aboriginal people
• Opportunities for Victorians with disability
• Women's equality and safety
• Opportunities for disadvantaged Victorians
• Supporting safe and fair workplaces
• Environmentally sustainable outputs

Justice and Community Safety

Prioritised objectives:

• Opportunities for Victorian Aboriginal people
• Opportunities for Victorians with disability
• Opportunities for disadvantaged Victorians
• Environmentally sustainable outputs
• Implementation of the Climate Change Policy Objectives

Jobs, Precincts and Regions

Prioritised objectives:

• Opportunities for Victorian Aboriginal people
• Women's equality and safety
• Opportunities for disadvantaged Victorians
• Sustainability Victorian regions

Transport

Prioritised objectives:

• Women's equality and safety
• Sustainable Victorian social enterprise and Aboriginal business sectors
• Sustainability Victorian regions

VicRoads

Prioritised objectives:

• Opportunities for Victorian Aboriginal people
• Opportunities for Victorians with disability
• Opportunities for disadvantaged Victorians
• Sustainable Victorian social enterprise and Aboriginal business sectors
• Sustainability Victorian regions
• Environmentally sustainable outputs
• Environmentally sustainable business practices

Public Transport Victoria

Prioritised objectives:

• Opportunities for Victorian Aboriginal people
• Opportunities for Victorians with disability
• Opportunities for disadvantaged Victorians
• Sustainable Victorian social enterprise and Aboriginal business sectors
• Environmentally sustainable outputs
• Environmentally sustainable business practices
• Implementation of the Climate Change Policy Objectives

Major Transport Infrastructure Authority

Prioritised objectives (draft):

• Opportunities for Victorian Aboriginal people
• Opportunities for disadvantaged Victorians
• Supporting safe and fair workplaces
• Environmentally sustainable business practices

Premier and Cabinet

Prioritised objectives:

• Opportunities for Victorian Aboriginal people
• Opportunities for Victorians with disability
• Women's equality and safety
• Opportunities for disadvantaged Victorians
• Supporting safe and fair workplaces
• Sustainable Victorian social enterprise and Aboriginal business sectors

Treasury and Finance

Prioritised objectives:

• Opportunities for Victorian Aboriginal people
• Opportunities for Victorians with disability
• Women's equality and safety
• Supporting safe and fair workplaces
• Sustainable Victorian social enterprise and Aboriginal business sectors

Victoria Police

Prioritised objectives:

• Opportunities for Victorian Aboriginal people
• Women's equality and safety
• Supporting safe and fair workplaces
• Sustainable Victorian social enterprise and Aboriginal business sectors

How to find out more and get involved - procurement forward plans

Procurement forward plans are available on the Buying for Victoria website at for each department and core agency. The plans provide an overview of the types of procurement activities (goods and services only) that government agencies may undertake over the next 12 to 18 months.

Local Jobs First and Social Procurement

In addition to the Social Procurement Framework, the Government’s Local Jobs First policy improves opportunities for Victorian businesses when bidding for government work. The Local Jobs First Strategic Projects Forward Plan at provides industry with early notification of projects, including the local content requirements, and gives businesses the chance to register to supply into these projects. To register as a supplier, visit the ICN Gateway.

Supplier guidance

For more information for suppliers.

Opportunities for social benefit suppliers and Aboriginal businesses

The Framework provides opportunities for organisations both big and small. Social benefit suppliers and Aboriginal businesses are encouraged to contact Kinaway, Supply Nation and Social Traders to find out about how they assist suppliers to do business with government.

Other contacts and information

For social procurement questions, please call 03 7005 9138 or email SocialProcurement@dtf.vic.gov.au.

Mainstream suppliers can obtain support with their inclusive employment needs from Jobs Victoria at which provides tailored services to assist and connect jobseekers and employers. Business Victoria also has information on selling to government at .