NSW Government Agency Procurement from Australian Disability Enterprises

The NSW Government is working to increase job opportunities for people with a disability, by using government purchasing opportunities to support businesses that employ people with a disability. These businesses are called Australian Disability Enterprises (ADEs).

Procurement from Australian Disability Enterprises made easy

The Public Sector Employment and Management (Goods and Services) Regulation 2010 introduced provisions to simplify the purchasing of some goods and services by directly engaging disability employment organisations. This means that public sector agencies may purchase goods and services from eligible Disability Enterprises without an open tender and may also purchase goods outside of the standing offer contracts established by the State Contracts Control Board. Value for money must still be achieved for government. The Premiers Memorandum and Legislation Exemption underpinning this initiative can be accessed below:

Premiers Memorandum M2010-06

Public Sector Employment and Management (Goods and Services) Regulation 2010 Clause 27

Approved disability employment organisations

Australian Disability Enterprises are commercial businesses that provide employment for people with a disability. They have been included in a register through an order made by the Minister for Disability Services. The register is maintained by National Disability Services (NDS) and details of the businesses on the register can be found on their website at www.nds.org.au/procurement/nsw 

Types of work

Australian Disability Enterprises engage in a wide variety of work tasks such as scanning, digitisation, packaging, assembly, mailing fulfilment production, recycling, screen printing, plant nursery, garden maintenance and landscaping, cleaning services, laundry services and food services. Many ADEs have additional types of quality assurance and have significant experience in large government projects.

Assessing value for money

When procuring from registered disability organisations, all factors need to be considered relevant to the good or service being purchased. These include: whole of life costs; experience; quality; reliability; timeliness; delivery; innovation; product servicing; fitness for purpose; and any value adding components such as meeting the Government’s economic, social and environmental objectives.

Support with engaging approved disability employment organisations

National Disability Services (NDS) has been engaged to promote procurement from eligible disability organisations.  NDS are also funded to assist agencies to make contact with eligible disability employers who can meet their procurement needs.

The NDS Project Manager, Ian McHugh can be contacted on 02 9256 3113 or 0448 047 906, or email ian.mchugh@nds.org.au  

Details of Australian Disability Enterprises are available at www.nds.org.au/procurement/nsw. The website has a facility that enables ADEs to be searched by location and capability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please see here for list of FAQ's: Frequently Asked Questions

New Business opportunities EXPO 2012

The Expo provides an opportunity and insight into the potential of engaging Australian Disability Enterprises for NSW Government Sector procurement. For further details and registration please click here.