Category

  • Our Communities
  • Our Economy
  • Our Environment
  • Our Infrastructure & Buildings

Participating councils:

All ERG councils, plus Monash and others depending on the project

Other project partners:

-

Project description:

The Eastern Region Procurement Network (ERPN) demonstrates collaborative procurement and shared services amongst the ERG councils, as well as Boroondara and Monash councils.

The network is guided by a Regional Procurement Framework to support policy development. It meets six times per year to report to the ERG on progress, benefits realised, upcoming contract renewals and opportunities for collaboration.

The ERG is currently drafting the ERPN annual report. A communique outlining current activities will be distributed to councils every two months.

Several joint procurement activities are underway in areas such as herbicide, fertilizer and pesticide services, traffic management services, footpaths and Kerb and channel maintenance, drainage CCTV, cleaning, lining and patching services, turf maintenance and a builders services panel. The ERPN has also collaborated to develop a Specialised Consultancy Services panel which has resulted in 76 suppliers being selected to deliver services across nine categories. These include civil and structural engineering, geotech, surveying, environmental and heritage, recreation and open space, public and sports field lighting, traffic and transport engineering, underground service proofing and flood modelling.

More projects are underway, for example an investigation of joint procurement for a capital works collaboration in 2025. Potential areas include pedestrian bridges, drainage, stormwater and integrated water management, and playgrounds.

In November 2024, the ERPN is participating in a First Nations Procurement Workshop – supporting Aboriginal businesses and employment in the East, which is being facilitated by the ERG. The aim of the workshop is to build an understanding among council Reconciliation, Procurement and Economic Development teams about the importance, various approaches, and barriers faced when seeking to support Aboriginal businesses and employment through procurement.

View the Regional Procurement Framework to support policy development.

View the Regional Procurement Framework to support policy development (outline policy).