What is the Victorian Industry Participation Policy (VIPP)?
The Victorian Industry Participation Policy (VIPP) is a Victorian Government initiative designed to ensure that local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are given a full and fair opportunity to compete for government contracts, while still achieving value for money.
The VIPP requires that government agencies consider local content as a key criterion in tender evaluation and other relevant procurement processes. Since its establishment in 2001, the VIPP has led to over $1B of import replacement - orders for local industry that would otherwise have gone overseas.
The Victorian Industry Participation Policy (VIPP) connects government buyers with local suppliers.
The Victorian Government has announced reforms, strengthening VIPP to give SMEs greater opportunity to supply goods and services for public procurement activities. The changes will apply from 1 January 2013 and cover a range of public projects.
Key changes include:
- The introduction of a ‘contestability assessment’ which focusses on procurement activities containing ‘contestable’ goods and services.
- Greater detail on the opportunities for suppliers. ICN Victoria will now provide a list of the ‘contestable’ goods and services that are relevant to specific procurement activities. This is made available to both government agencies and shortlisted bidders, highlighting business opportunities for local companies at an early stage in the procurement activity.
- An online VIPP plan with enhanced assistance features to help bidders to complete the VIPP process more accurately and efficiently.
- More robust monitoring and reporting requirements to demonstrate the local content outcomes achieved through the implementation of VIPP.
- Introduction of a post-contract verification process.
You can download and print a copy of the VIPP guidelines 2013 from the Department of State Development, Business and Innovation’s website: http://www.dsdbi.vic.gov.au/vipp
How is ICN involved with VIPP?
ICN Victoria facilitates the VIPP on behalf of the State Government, performing certifications and evaluations of VIPP Plans submitted for government-funded tender contracts valued at over $1 million in regional Victoria or $3 million in metropolitan areas.
How can ICN help with the VIPP?
To register on the VIPP Management Centre or log into your VIPP account:
https://www.icnvic.org.au/VIPP
For Government agencies ICN provides:
- Advice on activities with potential for local industry involvement
- Introduction to competitive suppliers
- Advice on the VIPP process
- Analysis of bidders’ VIPP Plans
- Certification of VIPP Plans
- Certification of post-tender changes and contract outcomes
- Advice and templates for monitoring VIPP compliance
- Assessment of VIPP Plan to agencies
- Post-contract verification
For bidders and industry ICN provides:
- Explanation of VIPP requirements
- Advice on activities with potential for local industry involvement
- Guidance on how to complete VIPP Plans
- Introduction to competitive suppliers
- Certification of VIPP Plans, any post-tender changes and contract outcomes
- Advice and templates for monitoring VIPP activities
ICN service probity policy
ICN provides a free service in strict compliance with probity and confidentiality procedures in accordance with Government procurement guidelines. Accordingly, ICN will ensure separation of duties between "assistance” to understand VIPP requirements and "VIPP Plan certification and evaluation".
Strategic Projects
Major projects that have whole-of-life costs of $250M or more may be declared of 'strategic significance' if they meet certain criteria. The project has to have the potential to make a strategic contribution to the productive capability of Victoria and its ongoing economic wellbeing, as well as the potential to generate local industry participation and the transfer of skills / technology that will build the State's ongoing industry capability.
Strategic Projects will be subject to additional local content requirements, aimed at maximising local industry participation, economic activity and the overall benefit for Victoria.
Further Information
ICN
For bidder or agency enquiries regarding the VIPP process, please contact ICN on 03 9864 6700 or email info@icnvic.org.au
Department of State Development, Business & Innovation (DSDBI)
For policy or other VIPP enquiries, please contact DSDBI on 13 22 15 or visit DSDBI’s VIPP webpage http://www.dbi.vic.gov.au/vipp