Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Procurement Policy

Background

The ACT Government launched the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Procurement Policy (ATSIPP) on 31 May 2019. The ACT Government’s aim for the ATSIPP is to support the objectives of the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Agreement 2019-2028. The Agreement includes the focus area of employment and economic participation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Canberra Region.

The ACT Government has identified two target areas that offer the greatest opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander enterprises:

• opportunities that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander small to medium enterprises (SMEs) have the capacity and capability to deliver individually; and
• opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander enterprises as sub-contractors on large projects.

The ATSIPP instigates a cultural change within the Territory to reduce some of the barriers to government procurement encountered by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander enterprises. Each Territory Entity is required to identify and act upon opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander enterprises in its procurement activities.

The ATSIPP encourages Territory officers to seek quotes from relevant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Enterprises wherever possible, driving growth in economic participation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander enterprises through an increase to the Government’s spend with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander enterprises.

For more information please view the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Procurement Policy (PDF). If you have difficulty accessing this document please contact us.

Targets

To commit each Territory Entity to delivering tangible improvements against the ATSIPP objectives, the Territory will commence the ATSIPP by setting realistic targets with the view to revisiting them as the policy matures and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander enterprise capability increases. The targets are as follows:

Canberra Region Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Enterprise List

Territory Entities should source from local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Enterprises where possible. Below is a link to a list of known Canberra Region Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander enterprises. The list also provides head contractors for large projects, a resource to find Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sub-contractors in the Canberra Region.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Enterprise List

Procurement ACT attempts to keep this list of Canberra Region Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander enterprises up-to-date. If there is no suitable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander enterprise in the Canberra region, the Territory entity is encouraged to use the Supply Nation Indigenous Business Direct search to find a suitable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander enterprise from outside this region.

Note that, from 15 January 2019, businesses in the construction, cleaning, security or traffic management industries will need to have a Secure Local Jobs Certificate and meet certain workplace standards to be eligible to be engaged on a contract with the ACT Government. For more information see Secure Local Jobs.

How to become a Recognised Certifying Authority

A Certifying Authority is an organisation which provides services to confirm the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ownership and control of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Enterprises. The Certifying Authority's processes are recognised by the Territory as suitably robust to assure the Territory of the integrity of its certified Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Enterprise List. The Policy currently recognises the following Certifying Authorities:

• Supply Nation;
• National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO); and
• Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC)

If your organisation is interested in becoming a recognised Certifying Authority, please contact ProcurementACT@act.gov.au. Applications will be considered on a case by case basis. In considering additional Certifying Authorities the Territory will look for clear and independent governance structures as well as consistent and reputable certification criteria.

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