Over the past year, the Victorian Government Purchasing Board (VGPB) has progressed its 2024-2026 strategic plan, established in January 2024. The strategic plan seeks to respond to a complex procurement environment and the emergence of new technologies, and support government agencies with education and tools to achieve value for the Victorian people in all procurement activity. The priorities set out in the VGPB’s strategic plan are:
- Streamline procurement for buyers and suppliers and facilitate data-driven decisions
- Build procurement capability to support good decision-making
- Engage to support good procurement
- Create fit-for-purpose procurement policy.
Our strategic priorities
Significant work has been delivered against our capability priority in 2024-25. With the support of the Department of Government Services (DGS), we have now completed the seven-part ‘Introduction to Procurement’ series of eLearning courses. We have also released several additional advanced courses including writing specifications and managing risk in procurement. The Procurement Knowledge Hub will continue to be available to build procurement capability across the Victorian Government.
The rollout of the Digital Marketplace and Supplier Hub continued through 2024-25, with 11 State Purchase Contracts (SPCs) and registers now available on the platform, and 3,444 active suppliers registered.
Procurement data analytics continues to evolve, with a range of high-quality dashboards and reports giving SPC category managers and departmental chief procurement officers (CPOs) insights to enable informed decision making.
On the policy front, a number of updates were made to VGPB guidelines and templates, including for supplier debriefs, conflict of interest and risk management. Attention was also afforded to the role that artificial intelligence will play in procurement and the relevant focus that government will need to have on this as the technology and its use matures. This work will support buyers with supplier engagement, probity and achieving value-for-money.
Stakeholder engagement
Engagement continues to be a focus for the VGPB. In February the Board met with the CPOs of the 14 accredited departments and agencies to workshop risks facing Victorian Government procurement and potential mitigation strategies. The Board also welcomed 11 department and agency CPOs to its Board meetings during the year to share their procurement experience, achievements and challenges. These engagements help deepen the VGPB’s understanding of the diversity of procurement across VGPB agencies.
Board renewal
I would like to thank departing Board members Charleene Mundine, Denise Dyer and Peter Lane for their contributions. We wish Charleene, Denise and Peter well with their future endeavours.
Nadine Lennie
Chair, Victorian Government Purchasing Board
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