VPRBV procurement

Introduction to VPRBV procurement

The way that the Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board of Victoria (“the VPRBV”) buys goods and services is governed by the Victorian government’s procurement framework, which is based on the 5 policies summarised below:
  1. Governance: a governance structure embeds procurement across the organisation and ensures alignment with business planning. The structure places a greater focus on upfront strategic planning and transparency to provide consistency of market approach and better value-for-money procurement decisions.
  2. Complexity and capability assessment: procurement decisions are based on an assessment of complexity and the organisation’s capability to conduct the procurement. Procurement can only proceed when the organisation determines that it has the necessary capability to meet the complexity of the procurement activity.
  3. Market analysis and review: market analysis determines the capacity of the market to supply and the opportunities for market-based solutions. A review of requirements and processes in response to market analysis determines the most appropriate path to market.
  4. Market approach: the organisation must continuously apply a structured, measured approach to informing, evaluating and negotiating with suppliers.
  5. Contract management and contract disclosure: contract management is escalated to a high-level consideration early in the planning process to arrive at an integrated end-to-end procurement framework.

Directives

All VPRBV procurement activity must meet the following directives:
  • Value for money: this means making a balanced judgement of a range of financial and non-financial factors, taking into account the mix of quality, cost and resources; fitness for purpose; total cost of ownership; and risk.
  • Accountability: the Accountable Officer has the flexibility to conduct procurement activities using appropriate capability to provide value-for-money outcomes.
  • Probity: high standards of behaviour and actions in the conduct of procurement processes, including equity, confidentiality, avoiding conflicts of interest, and consumer/supplier confidence in the integrity of government procurement processes.
  • Scalability: the relationship between the complexity of a procurement project and the capability of the organisation to conduct it to achieve a good procurement outcome.

Annual procurement plan

This summary forecast of the VPRBV’s procurement activity is published in accordance with the Victorian Government Purchasing Board's Governance Policy:

Disclaimer: the VPRBV Annual Procurement Plan 2022-23 is current as at July 2022. All planned procurements are subject to revision or cancellation. The information in the plan is provided for planning purposes only. It does not represent a solicitation or constitute a request for proposal, nor is it a commitment by the VPRBV to purchase the described goods or services. Requests for Tender will be advertised on the Victorian government tenders website at www.tenders.vic.gov.au.

Supplier code of conduct

The VPRBV is committed to ethical, sustainable and socially responsible procurement. In ensuring that our suppliers maintain the same values as the Victorian government, the State has established a Supplier Code of Conduct (“the Code”).

The Code outlines the minimum ethical standards in behaviour that suppliers will aspire to meet when conducting business with, or on behalf of, the State in the areas of:
  • integrity, ethics and conduct
  • conflict of interest, gifts, benefits and hospitality
  • corporate governance
  • labour and human rights
  • health and safety, and
  • environmental management.

To view the code or access the supplier fact sheet or frequently asked questions documentation, visit the Victorian Government Purchasing Board's website.

Visit www.buyingfor.vic.gov.au for more information on Victorian government procurement.

How to make a procurement complaint

The VPRBV is committed to ensuring that its procurement activities comply with the Victorian Government Purchasing Board's (VGPB's) policies and procedures and are underpinned by high levels of probity, accountability and integrity. To find out more about VGPB policies, visit the Victorian Government Purchasing Board.

To report a concern or complaint about a VPRBV process or probity matter relating to a procurement activity, contact the VPRBV team or staff member you are dealing with. Most issues are likely to have resulted from a misunderstanding or process error and can be rectified quickly and easily. If the issue is not resolved, you can make a formal complaint to the VPRBV. Complaints are handled in a fair, consistent and transparent manner. The VPRBV's procurement complaint process is set out below:

Complaint management process

Step 1: Lodging a complaint

To lodge a complaint about a procurement process, please email the details of your complaint to [email protected]

Step 2: Complaint investigation process

Within 5 working days of receipt of your complaint:
  • Your complaint will be acknowledged in writing, and
  • The VPRBV will record the complaint on the agency’s register.
The VPRBV will appoint an independent person to investigate the complaint. Within 20 working days of receipt of your complaint:
  • the independent person will investigate your complaint
  • the VPRBV will provide you with a written response with the outcome of the complaint investigation

If more information is required, or the services of external parties are needed to advise on elements of the complaint, there will be an extension of time. This will be based on the number of working days between the request for, and receipt of, additional information and/or advice sought.

Step 3: Complaint outcome

After the VPRBV notifies you of the complaint outcome, the outcome will be recorded on the VPRBV’s complaints register.

If you disagree with the outcome of your complaint, you may refer the complaint to the Victorian Government Purchasing Board for review.