Good design outcomes require good design process. The Government Architect NSW collaborate with government agencies and industry to promote procurement practices that foster innovation and diversity.
Good procurement is the basis of delivering public value for government projects. We apply systems-thinking to frame design procurement in the context of state policy. We advocate for fair, transparent and diverse procurement practices that prioritise good design.
The Government Architect’s Strategy and Design Prequalification Scheme connects strategy and design professionals to government opportunities.
Advocating for strategic thinking
The Government Architect NSW advises government agencies on procurement processes to support the delivery of good design outcomes. We champion early involvement of strategic services to set the conditions for innovation. Our service offer to government agencies includes workshopping the project scope, reviewing design briefs, identifying strategies for team selection, selecting methods for qualitative assessment and tactics for design management.
Supporting industry capacity
The procurement of design services is an opportunity to invest in design thinking. We encourage government agencies to foster emerging talent, support regional practitioners and incorporate Indigenous perspectives. We make connections between procurement practices and the capacity of designers to respond to future challenges. See Architecture Bulletin March 2019 p 38.
Positioning suppliers with government
Procurement for good design will help the NSW Government become a 'best-in-class' client. We collaborate with industry peak bodies and government working group forums to endorse best practices and good client relationships. The Government Architect NSW has endorsed the Australian Institute of Architects' Guidelines for EOI and RFT for architectural services.
Advisory notes
The Government Architect NSW has produced advisory notes to support better procurement processes. These include:
- Local Government Procurement of State Prequalified Designers
- Free Trade Agreement Impacts on Procurement of Design Services