In late 2024, Strategic Procurement Solutions (SPS) was engaged by Lismore City Council to support the procurement process for the Landslip Restoration Package (LRP) – the largest and most complex initiative within the Council’s flood recovery program. The goal was to identify and engage a qualified contractor to deliver slope remediation works across more than 60 damage sites in the Lismore region under NSW Disaster EPAR arrangements.
This was not a routine procurement. The program had to move quickly, meet strict funding deadlines, and still stand up to scrutiny.
To ensure a rigorous and transparent selection, the procurement followed a two-phase Request for Proposal (RFP) process:
Phase one: 11 proponents submitted proposals, each assessed for capability, experience, and delivery approach.
Phase two: the top three proponents were shortlisted for a more intensive evaluation.
The timeline was tight, with the but the process still needed to be rigorous, transparent, and well managed from start to finish. The procurement process was tightly scheduled for delivery within nine months and operated at a fast pace to meet strict funding deadlines.
SPS managed the VendorPanel platform and acted as the primary Contact Officer throughout the process.
While not leading the RFP itself, SPS operated the machinery behind it – coordinating platform operations, communications, and logistics to keep the process on track. Acting as the central hub, SPS facilitated the flow of information, decisions, and dialogue.
SPS also supported a high volume of procurement activity, including:
Formal notices and addendums.
Responses to technical and commercial queries.
Supported more than 20 workshops, multiple knowledge transfer sessions, health checks, leadership meetings, and interim presentations.
Led more than 15 supplier debriefs.
Contributed to compliance checks during phase two.
Management of RFP and RFI activity to keep responses timely and accurate.
Large, fast-moving procurements rarely fail because of one major issue. More often, they unravel through confusion, delay, or poor coordination between stakeholders.
SPS worked across council staff, project managers, probity advisers, and technical experts to keep communication clear and decisions moving. That meant balancing speed with care, and making sure transparency and compliance were maintained throughout, while delivering against tight funding deadlines.
This kind of work demands more than administration. It requires judgement, discipline, and the ability to keep many moving parts aligned without losing sight of the outcome.
SPS helped Lismore City Council deliver a complex procurement process with confidence and control. The result was a strong foundation for critical infrastructure restoration across the Lismore region, delivered with integrity, efficiency, and clear governance.
Councils often face the same challenge: deliver essential recovery work quickly without weakening probity, transparency, or supplier confidence. This project shows that with the right procurement support it is possible to do both.
If you need support with a complex council procurement, Strategic Procurement Solutions can help manage the process clearly, efficiently, and with the governance needed to keep it on track.
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