A GUIDE TO INNOVATIVE PROPOSALS
(a)
Overview
Council is eager to work with the private sector to explore unique and innovative
proposals that provide an improved service for Brisbane ratepayers, reduce Council’s
delivery costs and align with our Corporate Vision.
To encourage the best ideas and solutions, Council has delivered a transparent and
streamlined approach to cater for innovative proposals. The key objective of the policy
is to provide consistency and certainty to the private sector as to how their proposals
will be assessed.
Council’s procurement activities are governed by the City of Brisbane Act 2010 and the
City of Brisbane Regulation 2012.
This guide has been developed to reflect the Innovative Proposal Policy adopted by
Council on 4 August 2015 which provides direction on the treatment of any innovative
proposal received by Council.
(b)
What does Council consider to be an innovative proposal
An innovative proposal is generally a written proposal by an individual or organisation
for a unique and innovative idea for the supply of goods, services or works to Council
which has not been solicited, sought or requested by Council through the normal
procurement channels. An innovative proposal must provide Council with value for
money, and seek to solve a problem of Council’s, address an opportunity for Council or
enhance services Council provides to rate payers.
For innovative proposals to progress through the assessment process, the unique and
innovative nature of the submission must be clearly articulated and demonstrate why
others could not deliver a similar proposal with the same value for money outcome.
To decide if you meet these criteria, answer the following essential questions:
(c)

Can this proposal be readily delivered by competitors?

What benefits would Council gain for ratepayers by not going to a competitive
tendering process?

Do you own something that would limit Council’s ability to source a similar
service from the market? i.e. intellectual property, real property, unique assets.

Are there any attributes which may not necessarily stand alone as unique but,
when combined, create a ‘unique’ proposal?
What is not an innovative proposal
Examples of proposals not considered unique or innovative would include:

A request for a government grant or government funding.

Proposals to provide widely available goods or services to government.

Proposals for consultancy services.

A contracting activity that has been solicited, sought or requested by Council
through the processes set out in Council’s Contract Manual or Annual
Procurement Policy and Contracting Plan.
(d)
Who should I contact at Council
Please address your innovative proposal to:
Chief Executive Officer
Brisbane City Council
GPO Box 1434
Brisbane Queensland 4001
(e)
What should be included in the proposal
Please include:
(a)
A summary of what you are proposing (including unique and innovative
elements)
(b)
What problem of Council’s you are seeking to resolve or what opportunity for
Council you are seeking to address
(c)
Outline how you will deliver your proposal and anticipated timeframes
(d)
Your corporate structure and contact details
(e)
Information about intellectual property (including the current status of the
intellectual property)
(f)
Why you consider your innovative proposal to be value for money to Council.
To assist you further, Council has prepared a proposal submission form to guide your
submission; however, use of the form is not mandatory.
(f)
What will Council do once we receive an innovative proposal
Council will assess each proposal on its own merit and taking into account Council
procurement policies and Council’s priorities.
Council seeks to conduct its commercial dealings with integrity. The assessment of
innovative proposals must be fair, open and demonstrate all reasonable standards of
probity consistent with the public interest. The assessment of innovative proposals will
be conducted through the application of established probity principles that aim to
assure all parties of the integrity of the decision making process.
Council retains the sole discretion to decide if a proposal meets the requirements of
Council’s Innovative Proposals Policy to justify direct negotiation with the proponent.
Council emphasises that its preference is to undertake a procurement approach that
tests the market to ensure demonstrable achievement of value for money and a fair
and equal opportunity for all private sector participants.
Council’s Innovative Proposals Policy will guide the assessment of your submission
and consists of the following elements:
Stage One: An optional, initial, pre-lodgement meeting between the proponent and
Council procurement officers to discuss the key attributes, benefits, requirements and
assumptions underlying the potential proposal. This is not a compulsory stage but may
assist the proponent. Council may provide feedback at this stage as to whether it
considers that the proposal, as presented, is consistent with the Policy.
Notwithstanding this feedback, it is the proponent’s decision as to whether it proceeds
with making a formal proposal.
Stage Two: Preliminary assessment of the proposal will be undertaken in
accordance with the Innovative Proposals Policy to determine if the proposal has
sufficient merit to warrant progression to Stage Three and further consideration for a
Direct Engagement. The Oversight of Consultancies Special Committee endorses (or
not) the progression to Stage Three based on the preliminary assessment from
Council procurement officers. The proponent will be advised of the outcome. Council
reserves the right to further consider, not consider or proceed with a competitive
sourcing activity in its absolute discretion.
Stage Three: The proponent will be required to provide a detailed proposal and work
cooperatively with Council’s procurement officers in the development and assessment
of the detailed proposal. Council will undertake a detailed assessment of the detailed
proposal to ascertain if sufficient value can be achieved for ratepayers through a Direct
Engagement. This stage will consider elements such as the technical, financial, risk
and logistical aspects of the proposal. Council reserves the right to decide in its
absolute discretion whether the proposal proceeds to Stage Four.
Stage Four: Negotiation of a final binding offer involves the finalisation of all
outstanding issues with a view of entering into a binding agreement, should the
Council accept the final offer. The decision will be made by the Council delegate and in
Council’s sole and absolute discretion.
Note: Proponents will not be entitled to any reimbursement of costs incurred during the
preparation of any innovative proposal or for any stage of the process.
(g)
How soon will Council respond to my innovative proposal
Council aims to complete the preliminary assessment and provide a response as to
whether your innovative proposal can progress under the Policy within 20 working
days. If further time is required, you will be advised in writing.
(h)
Council’s Procurement Policies
For further information on Council’s procurements policies, refer to:
(a)
Contract Manual; and
(b)
Annual Procurement Policy and Contracting Plan.