Boost procurement opportunities

As a large purchaser, the Queensland Government can create more opportunities for small and family business to tender for government work.

Through a small business first approach and working across government agencies, we will raise awareness, build capability to respond to tenders and reduce complexity by simplifying contracts, removing unnecessary requirements, improving training and guidelines.

We will:

  • Make it easier for small and family businesses to tender for government work with simplified procurement processes, standardised contracts and more tendering opportunities for small and family businesses.
  • Establish a new $1 million Small and Family Business Innovation Pathway to engage Queensland small and family businesses for short-term initiatives.
  • Supported by the dedicated Queensland Small Business Procurement Advisor, the Department of Customer Services, Open Data and Small and Family Business to lead by example and adopt and advocate for new approaches across government, including:
    • Measures to address the size and complexity of government procurement systems and processes.
    • Amendments to make it easier for small businesses to understand tender specifications and simplify pre-qualification requirements.
    • More comprehensive debriefing opportunities for unsuccessful tenderers to assist small business in future opportunities.
    • Revised guides and information to assist small businesses prepare tender documentation.
    • Changes to obligations at the tender phase of procurement processes to only require small businesses to gain required insurances when/if awarded a contract.
    • Engage with larger businesses to promote small business friendly practices for industry, including developing a private sector procurement template agreement to support faster payment times to small businesses.
    • Develop small business friendly contracts for all whole of government prequalification schemes.
  • Run workshops and events to develop small business capability and capacity to tender to government.
  • Deliver Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games tender capability building for small business.
  • Review the Queensland Procurement Policy including focus on creating opportunities for local suppliers, with an emphasis on small and family businesses and regional enterprises.
  • Ensure better procurement data and reporting is available to track the progress and impact of these initiatives. Maintain the Small Medium Enterprise (SME) Procurement Target to measure the participation of SMEs in Queensland Government procurement.