Adelaide City Council wants to give local businesses first chance to bid on small tenders

Adelaide City Council wants to work with local businesses across the CBD and North Adelaide, giving them the first chance to bid on some of its small tenders.

Adelaide City Council would flag some of its business opportunities just for city and North Adelaide traders under a plan to help small businesses boost their sales.

The council voted at its last meeting to review its procurement policy to allow local small businesses only to bid to undertake some of its small project work.

The ‘micro-tenders’ would be placed on a website.

Deputy Lord Mayor Houssam Abiad, who pushed for the initiative, said it was a way of providing more opportunities for local business operators.

“We are collecting $80 million out of $100 million in rates a year from businesses in the city and North Adelaide … the least we can do is allow them an opportunity to be involved in doing business with us,” Mr Abiad said.

“Imagine there is an opportunity for us to provide lunch for 200 people or we need 100 pens or x amount of paper reams etc, there is an opportunity to put that on a website.

“We are serious about growing businesses in the city, and growing the city, so we should put the businesses first.”

Under current policy;

PROJECTS under $10,000, the council must seek one quote but three are encouraged;

BETWEEN $10,000 and $100,000, three quotes needed;

PROJECTS worth more than $100,000 usually subjected to an open tender.

Cr Jessy Khera backed the proposal, saying it was good way to support small businesses.

“Businesses are doing it tough, just go for a walk around the CBD,” Cr Khera said.

“Anything to help and support them, as well as give them a little leg up … is a good idea.”