Printing Industries outlines vision for government print procurement

An initiative to develop a suggested set of principles for government print procurement is gaining traction, according to Printing Industries.

This verdict follows a meeting with NSW Government officials attended by Printing Industries CEO Philip Andersen, national manager for policy and government affairs, Hagop Tchamkertenian, and GEON’s group strategy manager and representative of the NSW Print Procurement Sub-committee, Ben Heraghty along with representatives of NSW Procurement.

Printing Industries formed the print procurement sub-committee early this year after calling for expressions of interest from the industry. 

“The decision to form the sub-committee was a proactive move by Printing Industries after it became aware that the NSW Government was in the process of exploring new print procurement arrangements,” Andersen said.

 “We have presented them with an outline of the print procurement principles that our sub-committee had been working on over the past several months.”

The print procurement principles will be released shortly by Printing Industries.

“The print procurement principles that we have developed are the by-product of the experiences of the various government print procurement models currently in operation around Australia. We have analysed what is currently in the Australian marketplace, identifying the pros and cons of existing print procurement arrangements, and selected a framework that gives both parties – government and industry a functional platform,” Hagop said.

“There are a number of core print procurement principles that we are advocating such as opportunities for direct relationships between government print buyers and suppliers; value for money being broadly applied rather than a focus on the cheapest quote; reasonable payments terms; maximising print procurement opportunities for small-to medium-sized companies and regional printing businesses and government print buyers having a sound knowledge of printing.”

Andersen said Printing Industries would be aiming to hold regular meetings with NSW Procurement.

 “We welcome the opportunity to work with the NSW Government to develop its print procurement arrangements. We remain confident that with industry and government working together constructively, we can succeed in implementing print procurement arrangements that are beneficial to both parties,” he said.