As of 1 July 2024, the WAIPS process will be exclusively online. Learn more about this change in the announcement article.
Find out more about the Western Australian Industry Participation Strategy below.
What is the Western Australian Industry Participation Strategy
Show moreThe Western Australian Industry Participation Strategy (WAIPS) provides local industry, in particular small and medium sized businesses, with greater opportunities to access and compete for State Government contracts.
It was developed as a requirement of the Western Australian Jobs Act 2017.
The WAIPS aims to:
- Promote the diversification and growth of the Western Australian economy by targeting supply opportunities for local industry.
- Provide suppliers of goods or services with increased access to, and raised awareness of, local industry capability.
- Encourage local industry to adopt, where appropriate, world’s best practice in workplace innovation and the use of new technologies and materials.
- Promote increased apprenticeship, training and job opportunities in Western Australia.
- Promote increased opportunities for local industry to develop import replacement capacity by giving them, in particular small or medium enterprises, a full, fair and reasonable opportunity to compete against foreign suppliers of goods or services.
The Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade is responsible for the strategy, and may revise and provide exemptions to it if required.
The WAIPS is implemented by the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation.
Who does it apply to
Show moreThe WAIPS applies to all State Government departments, agencies, statutory authorities and government trading entities. It does not apply to universities and local government procurement.
It relates to all forms of procurement (goods, services, housing and works) that are above designated values, including private-public partnerships and grants.
The values (total life of the contract including GST) for WAIPS requirements are below:
| Types of procurement | Location in WA | Contract value |
|---|---|---|
| Goods and services | Metropolitan area | $1 million and above |
| Goods and services | Regional areas | $500,000 and above |
| Housing and works | Metropolitan area | $3 million and above |
| Housing and works | Regional areas | $500,000 and above |
The WAIPS also applies to businesses seeking to supply to the State Government, as they must provide a participation plan with their tender bid. The participation plan will form part of the tender evaluation, award, contracting and reporting process.
For more information on WAIPS requirements for agencies visit Information for agencies.
If you are a business, find out more how to apply WAIPS under Information for businesses.
Key components
Show moreThe WAIPS consist of various components to ensure that local businesses are provided with the best possible access to State Government supply opportunities. These include:
Participation plans
The WAIPS requires prospective suppliers to complete and submit a participation plan as part of their tender bid for contracts above relevant thresholds. Depending on the value of the supply contract, they may need to prepare either a ‘core’ or ‘full’ participation plan.
A core participation plan is a simple plan that requires prospective suppliers to outline local economic benefits if they win the contract.
A full participation plan is more detailed and requires prospective suppliers to demonstrate how they will generate local economic benefits and provide a full, fair and reasonable opportunity to local industry, if they win the contract.
Participation plans are used as part of the evaluation, award and contracting process by State Government agencies.
Regional procurement
The WAIPS includes initiatives to improve economic outcomes for regional industry and businesses. These include:
- Local Content Advisers (LCAs) are located in each Regional Development Commission to help local industry and businesses.
- Agencies are encouraged to increase their delegated spend in regional areas.
- Changes to Common Use Agreements and agency panel contracts to provide greater opportunities for regional sourcing.
Assistance
State Government agencies and local businesses can get help to implement the WAIPS through the Industry Link Advisory Service and the Local Content Advisers.
You can find their details and how they can help you under Support for businesses and Support for agencies.
Exemptions
Agencies may apply for an exemption of a participation plan for some types of contracts. While a participation plan may not be needed, reporting on employment and training outcomes of the supply contract is still required.
Exemptions can be given by the Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade on a case by case basis.
Find out more under WAIPS requirements for agencies - Exemptions.
Reporting and compliance
Show moreState agencies need to ensure their supply contracts contain an obligation for the successful supplier to report on the outcomes of their participation plan. Agencies are also required to track and report on the economic outcomes.
The Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade may request audits to make sure that agencies have implemented the WAIPS properly and that successful suppliers have met their local participation obligations.
Read more about reporting obligations under WAIPS requirements for businesses and WAIPS requirements for agencies.
