A critical factor in ensuring that procurement is aligned with business needs is ensuring there is effective internal engagement within agencies. Effective internal engagement consists of:
early engagement across the organisation (and across multiple agencies/whole of government, if applicable) to ensure business needs are identified, agreed and approved. This includes relevant operational, policy and legal areas, and areas responsible for change management within the organisation. Consideration should be given to non-procurement solutions in the first instance.
ensuring that procurement supports business plans (and state-wide plans, as required).
embedding the outcomes of the internal engagement process in needs identification and procurement plans.
ensuring that identified external stakeholders are consulted, where appropriate.
specialist procurement expertise early in the procurement process for major projects.
Agencies should consider developing guidance to assist business units in their procurement planning. Amongst other things, this document will provide individual business units with a rundown of how procurement operates within the agency, highlight where money is being spent as well as areas of savings within the agency, and provide a comparison of spending and savings across government.