THE state government has introduced a new electronic system that will allow regional businesses to lodge tenders for the supply of goods and services to government online.
Finance Minister Simon O’Brien said the Department of Finance introduced the system following a pilot program for goods and services contracts in its Bunbury and Albany offices.
While traditional methods of tendering will continue, suppliers can now lodge their tender documents by logging on to the department’s website.
Mr O’Brien said the system would be particularly beneficial for regional suppliers.
“The department’s regional offices buy about $60 million worth of goods and services each year,” he said.
The new system will afford a higher level of security than documents delivered by post, email or fax, as well as greater efficiency in document handling and distribution.
It is now available across most regions in Western Australia, with the Goldfields and Wheatbelt regions joining by the end of 2011.