ITS2-00458 Provision of Rabbit Control Services - Mallee Parks and Reserves and the Kerang Lakes, Northern Victoria

Introduction

Parks Victoria is a statutory authority created by the Parks Victoria Act 2018 and reporting to the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change. Parks Victoria is responsible for managing an expanding and diverse estate covering more than 4 million hectares (or about 18 per cent) of Victoria.

Parks Victoria is committed to delivering works on the ground across Victoria’s park network to protect and enhance park values. It is our primary responsibility to ensure parks are healthy and resilient for current and future generations. For more detail on our strategy and direction, please read the current Corporate Plan and Business Plan on the publications section of Parks Victoria’s web site https://parkweb.vic.gov.au.

Project Background

The purpose of the project is to promote recovery of Mallee and Kerang landscapes, particularly the dry non-eucalypt woodlands which are at greatest risk from rabbits. Parks Victoria (PV) plans to undertake rabbit control in priority vegetation restoration areas to reduce rabbit population levels and their impact to semi-arid non-eucalypt woodland vegetation communities.

The project area includes the Mallee National Parks (Wyperfeld, Murray Sunset, Hattah Kulkyne and surrounding areas) and Kerang Lakes (Lake Cullen, Koorangie Wildlife Reserve and surrounding areas). In 1982, the Kerang Lakes were listed as a wetland of international importance (RAMSAR site) under the RAMSAR convention, particularly for the critical habitat and resources it provides to support a high diversity of waterbirds and other wetland dependent fauna.

Rabbits are one of the most significant threats to the conservation and regeneration of native vegetation communities and habitats in Northern Victoria. Effective control of rabbit populations in the Mallee National Parks and Kerang Lakes is essential to protect vulnerable vegetation communities, reduce erosion and improve ecosystem health.

Parks Victoria is seeking to engage a single or multiple suitably qualified and experienced Service Provider/s for the provision of specialist rabbit control services to undertake a range of control measures across the Mallee National Parks and Kerang Lakes. The engagement will be for an initial term of two (2) years and six (6) months, with two (2) one (1) year options to extend at PV’s discretion.

The rabbit control services that are required include warren ripping, fumigation and/or baiting. All management activities undertaken must be sensitive to native flora, fauna, cultural heritage and exclusion areas identified by PV.

The project will have broader biodiversity and other benefits, including but not limited to reduced fox predation of native fauna, reduced groundwater recharge, reduced soil erosion, increased carbon sequestration, improved agricultural protection, and improved habitat for a suite of fauna. The project will also ensure protection of significant cultural artefacts and sites.

Timeline and Key Dates

The table below sets out a timetable of the key milestones for the Tender Process. The timetable is indicative only and may be subject to change as advised by the Tender Contact Person.

The procurement activity will be a single stage Open Tender process with a Request for Tender period of four (4) weeks.

Site Visit / Briefings

All sites listed in the Request for Tender where rabbit control services are to occur have public access. If interested, Tenderers can make their own arrangements to visit any site and familiarise themselves with the area prior to submitting their response. Please note, all vehicles must stay on designated roads and tracks, and access may be limited if the weather has resulted in flooding in the area. To ensure safety, please contact the Tender Contact with the date and site you intend to visit, at least one (1) business day prior to visiting, to confirm accessibility.

An industry briefing will be provided during the early stage of the Request for Tender period. The briefing will be held online on Microsoft Teams. Details of the briefing will be provided in the Request for Tender. It is highly recommended that all Tenderers attend.

If you were unable to attend, please see a recording of the session at the following link: https://youtu.be/2pNGtDtTqvs (click hyperlink, or copy and paste into browser). Please note the video is “unlisted” on YouTube which means you can only view the video from the link provided (ie. video is not discoverable through YouTube search).

Certification Requirements

Suppliers will be requested to provide all necessary certifications, insurances and any other regulatory licences and certification required by law for conducting pest control services within Australia.

Management Systems

Suppliers will be requested to provide any evidence of management systems they use for Environmental, Occupational Health & Safety and/or Quality Assurance management.

Applicable Governmental Policies

The Victorian Social Procurement Framework applies to this tender. Tenderers will be requested to detail how they will work to deliver practices that support social and sustainable procurement objectives.

For more information, please refer to the Victorian Government website: https://www.buyingfor.vic.gov.au/social-procurement-victorian-government-approach.

The Local Jobs First Policy applies to this tender. Rabbit Control Services in Mallee Parks and Reserves and Kerang Lakes is considered a standard project under this policy. The Tenderer is required to lodge a local by nature Short Form Local Industry Development Plan (LIDP) separately with Industry Capability Network (ICN) where it will be assessed. ICN will provide an Acknowledgement Letter to the Tenderer. The Acknowledgement Letter and the LIDP must be submitted with the Tenderer’s tender response. Parks Victoria is required to apply the Local Jobs First Policy during the tender evaluation, with focus on industry development and job outcomes. Please note that the Major Projects Skills Guarantee (MPSG) does not apply to this project.

For more information and assistance, please refer to the Local Jobs First website: https://localjobsfirst.vic.gov.au/.