Doing Business with YDHS
The Victorian Government Purchasing Board (VGPB) reformed procurement guidelines in 2014 for all government departments and public sector agencies.
Following this process, Health Purchasing Victoria (HPV) aligned its procurement policies to the VGPB reforms. This reform is designed to ensure probity, planning and purchase category analysis, as well as clear accountability and transparency underpin procurement models.
In 2015 HPV mandated that all health services need to comply with HPV purchasing policies and that health services must transition to the HPV procurement policies by 30 June 2016.
Yarram and District Health Service has established a Procurement Framework that provides guidelines and protocols for conducting any procurement activity. The Framework and its associated procurement policies and procedures offer a strategy that ensures a coordinated approach to procurement at all levels of YDHS. The Framework ensures strategic planning, equity of supply opportunity for local businesses and demonstrated value for money is central to YDHS’s procurement activity.
Complaints Procedure
A procurement complaint is an issue or concern expressed by a supplier in relation to the process and probity applied by YDHS in the procurement activity for a good or service.
A complainant can refer a complaint about goods and services to anyone within YDHS. All formal complaints are to be referred to the Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) for review, investigation (if warranted) and response. The CPO may nominate a Procurement Complaints Officer to undertake this task.
The timely investigation and resolution of complaints by suppliers, in accordance with established formal procedures is an essential requirement for maintaining good relationships between YDHS and suppliers.
The complainant is required to provide details of the concerned dispute or complaint being lodged, including:
- a clear written statement of the perceived unsatisfactory approach and/or actions in the procurement process
- copies of or references to information to support the complaint
- a statement regarding the desired outcome from the complaint process.
If further correspondence or information is required, the supplier will be given no less than 15 working days to respond to any communication from YDHS unless the matter is urgent.
Complaints are to be lodged in writing or email to:
Chief Procurement Officer
Email: accounts@ydhs.com.au
Yarram and District Health Service
PO Box 61
Yarram Victoria 3971
YDHS Procurement Complaints Officer
The CPO will receive and review the complaint, then assign a dedicated Procurement Complaints Officer (Officer). The Procurement Complaints Officer will be independent of the procurement process and the subject matter of the complaint.
Upon receipt of the complaint, the Officer will:
- Enter the complaint into the Procurement Complaints Register, maintained by the CPO.
- Acknowledge receipt of the complaint within five (5) working days of receiving it. This acknowledgement will contain the contact name of the Officer, the proposed action and the associated timeframes.
- If additional information or clarification of complaint is required, YDHS will advise the supplier of this. YDHS and the complainant will come to an agreed extension of time.
- Once the YDHS Procurement Complaints Officer has received all required information, investigation is to be undertaken.
- The YDHS Procurement Complaints Officer is to provide findings to the CPO within 15 working days.
- The CPO is to provide recommendations to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) within (five) 5 working days of receiving the Officer’s findings.
- The CEO will determine the appropriate course of action.
- The complainant will be advised in writing of the process undertaken by YDHS and the outcome of the investigation within 30 working days of receiving all written correspondence relating to a complaint. This correspondence shall include an escalation process if the complainant is yet unsatisfied with the outcome.
Unresolved complaints
If the complainant is unsatisfied with the outcome from YDHS, any unresolved complaint that specifically relates to Health Purchasing Victoria (HPV) contracts can be directed onto the HPV Board for review. All other complaints can be referred the Victorian Government Purchasing Board (VGPB).
A complainant can refer a complaint to the HPV Board/VGPB for review if they are not satisfied with the findings and actions of YDHS. This could be related to the management of the complaint or the application of procurement policy and procedures.
YDHS is to inform the HPV Board/VGPB within (five) 5 working days of any complaint that could not be resolved to the satisfaction of both parties.
Complaints submitted to the HPV Board/VGPB must be lodged by letter, email or fax within 10 working days of the receipt of the findings by YDHS to:
HPV
The Chair
HPV Board
Health Purchasing Victoria
Level 34, 2 Lonsdale Street
MELBOURNE VIC 3000
VGPB
The Chair
Victorian Government Purchasing Board
Department of Treasury and Finance
GPO Box 4379
MELBOURNE VIC 3001
The complainant must provide the following material:
- Evidence that YDHS did not correctly apply the procurement policy and procedures in relation to a procurement activity;
- Evidence that the YDHS complaints management procedure was not applied correctly;
- A copy of all relevant correspondence between the complainant and YDHS service in relation to the nature of the complaint; and
- Any additional material requested by the HPV Board/VGPB to assist it in its findings.
The HPV Board/VGPB:
- Will inform YDHS and the complainant of its findings and any further action it intends to take in relation to the matter.
- Can require YDHS’s CEO to audit its application of procurement policy and procedures in relation to the procurement activity.
- Can inform the Minister for Health (HPV complaints) or Assistant Treasurer (VGPB complaints) of its review of a complaint and advise the Minister of Assistant Treasurer of further action that could be taken.
- May note the outcome of a review in relation to any complaint in its annual report to Parliament.
A copy of YDHS' Procurement Activity Plan 2025 - 2027 is provided below.
Yarram and District Health Service upholds the Australian Government’s position on modern slavery. There is no place for modern slavery in the Australian community or in the global supply chains of Australian goods and services. For further information on modern slavery, visit the Home Affairs website:
https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/criminal-justice/Pages/modern-slavery.aspx
If you are aware of any form of modern slavery in the YDHS supply chain please notify the Chief Procurement Officer.
Chief Procurement Officer
Email: accounts@ydhs.com.au
Yarram and District Health Service
PO Box 61
Yarram Victoria 3971
