NSW Government procurement – A guide for NSW State Contract Suppliers

NSW Procurement, a division of the Department Commerce, manages NSW Government contract on behalf of the State Contracts Control Board (SCCB).

Why should businesses consider becoming NSW Government suppliers?

·       NSW Government demand for outsourced providers is increasing. NSW Government spends over $30 billion each year on goods, services and infrastructure.

·       Government want to support NSW based Companies and Contractors.

·       Promoting innovation in NSW.

Want to supply to the NSW Government?

Australia's largest provider of state government tenders is NSW eTendering. Contact ISOsafe to get started today.

There are 2 main ways you can supply to NSW Government:

Contracts are usually awarded after a competitive tender process. Tenders are advertised on NSW eTendering.

Prequalification schemes provide government agencies with a list of expert resources they know have certain specialisations. They then use this list to procure the goods and services they need.

New suppliers can usually register to join a scheme at any time. This helps promote competition and provides a pool of talent.

The first step to joining a prequalification scheme is to register on the eTendering site. Once you have done this you can start your application.

Benefits of prequalification schemes provide many benefits both to government agencies and to you as the supplier of goods or services.

As buyers, agencies benefit from being able to:

·       access a panel of expert resources that can deliver quality goods and services

·       more efficiently run competitive tendering processes by tapping into a group of suppliers with a demonstrated track record.

As suppliers, we hope you benefit from:

·       reduced red tape and lower costs in doing business with government

·       simplified terms and conditions

·       having access to a self-service, online application process

·       being able to regularly apply to join

·       being able to apply for business opportunities by regions and categories, where possible.

Overwhelmed? Contact ISOsafe on 1300 789 132 to get assistance with becoming a NSW State Contract Supplier.

Supplying to Government of Western Australia Department of Communities and Housing – Useful information for becoming a construction or maintenance contractor

There are a number of ways the Government of Western Australia Department of Communities and Housing Authority procures goods and services and construction or maintenance services.

The nature of the procurement and value of the potential contract determines the purchasing method Government of Western Australia Department of Communities and Housing Authority must follow.

All larger contract works can be accessed on Tenders WA. Tenders WA is the central online source of information on Western Australian public sector tenders and awarded contracts.

Businesses and Contractors looking to provide works to Western Australia Department of Communities and Housing will be required to lodge an application through Tenders WA.

ISOsafe can assist with the entire application process, contact us today on 1300 789 132.

DPTI Prequalification - Quick Setup Guide to Prequalification for Transport and Building Infrastructure Requirements

DPTI prequalification allows competent Companies and Contractors undertake the work on South Australia Government building contracts.

Companies and Contractors can apply for prequalification in any category at any time – call ISOsafe to learn more.

Prequalification is available at various levels that reflect the complexity and value of contracts that a company will be permitted to tender for.

When a contract is advertised, the Request for Tender will specify the level of prequalification required. Prequalification must be gained in order to be considered for South Australia Government tenders.

There are 4 key categories of Prequalification:

• Prequalification For Professional And Technical Services

• Prequalification For Rail Safety Workers

• Prequalification For Building Work

• Prequalification For Transport Infrastructure

To get started with DPTI prequalification for your Company, contact ISOsafe today on 1300 789 132.

ISO 9001 Basics: Complete Beginner’s Guide to ISO 9001:2015 Quality management systems — Requirements

ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems (QMS) is an international standard that helps organizations ensure they meet customers and other stakeholder needs within statutory and regulatory requirements related to a product or service. ISO 9001 is held by thousands of businesses in Australia, we’ve helped them get Certified with minimal disruption, reducing project costs and raising revenues.

In this guide to ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems (QMS) for beginners, you’ll learn:

·       What is ISO 9001 and why it is important?

·       Reasons for use?

·       ISO 9001 QMS Policy Best Practices

·       ISO 9001 Certification Best Practices   

·       How to best Prepare for ISO 9001 : 2015 Certification

·       Common Technical ISO 9001 QMS Issues

·       How to Track & Measure ISO 9001 QMS Performance Evaluation, Compliance Evaluations and Report Results at Management Review Meetings.

·       Additional ISO 9001 Considerations (such as industry specific applications of the standard and ISO Best Practices)

ISO 9001 Certification - Fast Tracked. Serving All Industries, Australia-Wide

What is ISO 9001 and why it is important?

Over one million organizations worldwide are independently certified to ISO 9001, making it one of the most widely used management tools globally.

Contents of ISO 9001:2015 are as follows:

·       Section 1: Scope

·       Section 2: Normative references

·       Section 3: Terms and definitions

·       Section 4: Context of the organization

·       Section 5: Leadership

·       Section 6: Planning

·       Section 7: Support

·       Section 8: Operation

·       Section 9: Performance evaluation

·       Section 10: Continual Improvement

Similar to its predecessor, ISO 9001:2008, the layout of the current version of the standard follows PDCA (plan–do–check–act or plan–do–check–adjust) principles. PDCA is an iterative four-step management method used in business for the control and continuous improvement of processes and products.

The ISO 9001:2015 management system standard helps ensure that consumers get reliable, desired quality goods and services. This further increases benefits for a business.

Over time, various industry sectors have wanted to standardise their interpretations of the guidelines within their own marketplace. This is partly to ensure that their versions of ISO 9000 have their specific requirements, but also to try and ensure that more appropriately trained and experienced auditors are sent to assess them. Some examples include:

·       The TickIT guidelines

·       AS9000 is the Aerospace Basic Quality System Standard

·       PS 9000, QS 9000, ISO/TS 16949 now referred to as IATF 16949:2016 are the various Automotive Quality Management Systems

·       TL 9000 is the Telecom Quality Management and Measurement System Standard

·       ISO 13485:2016 Medical devices

·       ISO/IEC 90003:2014 Software engineering

·       ISO/TS 29001 is quality management system requirements for the design, development, production, installation, and service of products for the petroleum, petrochemical, and natural gas industries

·       ISO 22000 Food Safety Management Systems

·       ISO 17025:2017 is the Quality Management System applicable only to Testing and Calibration Laboratories

Call ISOsafe to Fast Track 🚀 your Business ISO Certification on 1300 789 132

Reasons for use?

Proper quality management can improve business, often having a positive effect on investment, market share, sales growth, sales margins, competitive advantage, and avoidance of litigation.

We've got the answers - Call our ISO 9001 Certification helpline now

ISO 9001 QMS Policy Best Practices

The ISO 9001:2015 Quality management systems standard requires the development a Quality Policy. A Quality Policy is a document developed by management to express the commitment of top management with respect to quality.

Section 5.2 of the ISO 9001:2015 standard requires a written, well-defined quality policy that is communicated and understood by all stakeholders and interested parties. Need help developing a Quality Policy for your business? Call ISOsafe 1300 789 132.

ISO 9001 Certification Best Practices

Before the certification body can issue or renew a certificate, the auditor must be satisfied that the company being assessed has implemented the requirements of sections 4 to 10. Sections 1 to 3 are not directly audited against, but because they provide context and definitions for the rest of the standard, not that of the organization, their contents must be taken into account.

Common Technical ISO 9001 QMS Issues

An organization applying for ISO 9001 certification is audited based on an extensive sample of its sites, functions, products, services, and processes. The auditor presents a list of problems (defined as "non-conformities", "observations", or "opportunities for improvement") to management. If there are no major non-conformities, the certification body issues a certificate. Where major non-conformities are identified, the organization presents an improvement plan to the certification body (e.g. corrective action reports showing how the problems will be resolved); once the certification body is satisfied that the organization has carried out sufficient corrective action, it issues a certificate. The certificate is limited by a certain scope (e.g., production of golf balls) and displays the addresses to which the certificate refers.

How to Track & Measure ISO 9001 QMS Performance Evaluation, Compliance Evaluations and Report Results at Management Review Meetings.

The organization should determine the methods and frequency for monitoring, measurement, analysis, and evaluation of Performance Evaluation. Does this all sound like too much work? Call ISOsafe now to get help with your ISO 9001 accreditation.

Additional ISO 9001 Considerations (such as industry specific applications of the standard and ISO Best Practices)

So if you’ve gotten this far, you should know a lot of information about how ISO 9001:2015 Quality management systems.

What should you do next? Call ISOsafe on 1300 789 132 to get started on your ISO 9001 Certification.

Construction Supplier Register (CSR) – Supplier of Construction Works Pre-qualification Help

We help businesses and employers register with the Department of Treasury and Finance, Construction Supplier Register Prequal. Call ISOsafe to get started today - 1300 789 132

The Construction Supplier Register (CSR) pre-qualification scheme gives businesses and employers access to Victorian government building and construction projects.

To be an eligible contractor/supplier businesses and employers must be suitably qualified and experienced. This means you will be required to hold current Architects Registration Board registration or Victorian Building Authority practitioner registration.

The Buying for Victoria Contractor/Supplier Registration involves considering eligibility for many categories. Each category may be further divided into sub-categories that may define areas of expertise or competency. Some categories may include a project limit defining the highest project value an applicant may perform.

Construction Supplier Register (CSR) Applications Made Easy. Become a pre-qualified DTF Victorian Government supplier for construction works and services

Categories for suppliers of construction services include:

·       Acoustics

·       Architectural

·       Building Condition Assessment

·       Building Surveying

·       Civil Engineering

·       Communications

·       Construction Management

·       Contamination Testing

·       Contract Management

·       Drafting Services (Architectural)

·       Electrical Engineering

·       Energy Management

·       Fire Protection

·       Fire Safety Engineer

·       Geotechnical

·       Interior Design

·       Landscape Architects

·       Mechanical Engineering

·       Project Management

·       Quantity Surveying

·       Structural Engineering

Help and Support

ISOsafe provide assistance to businesses and employers looking to become CSR Approved Contractors/Suppliers. We have assisted many businesses just like yours gain Supplier of Construction Works Pre-qualification, in Victoria.

The Construction Supplier Register has a long list of requirements. ISOsafe understand this can be time consuming and sometimes confusing for businesses and employers. This is where we help you.

We can assist in the preparation of your Construction Supplier Register (CSR) Application, leaving you to do what you do best – running your business.

We can assist with the following areas of your Buying for Victoria Construction Supplier Registration

·       The identification and selection of pre-qualification category or categories;

·       Gathering and preparing information, including:

o   General information: Business name, contact person, address, Australian Business Number (ABN) and Australian Company Number (ACN) (where applicable) and size

o   Details of registrations such as Registered Building Practitioner, where applicable

o   Architects only – details of Architects Registration Board of Victoria registration

o   Examples of current and past projects undertaken and reference checks

o   Occupational health and safety documents. Where your current documents may be insufficient, we can prepare a complete Occupational health and safety management system for your business to help you comply

o   Insurance information

o   Financial information

o   Industrial Relations (IR) and Employment issues

Don’t get left behind. We provide you with the support and guidance needed to get your business Construction Supplier Register (CSR) accredited.

Call ISOsafe on 1300 789 132 to get started today with your CSR Application.