Buying innovation requires a different approach from buying established products
The ICT and digital sectors are constantly evolving, so knowing the latest or best solution isn’t always possible. Innovation procurement is an approach to procurement that supports buyers who need to turn to the market, but don’t know the best solution.
Innovation procurement focuses on the problem, or desired outcome, to attract a wide range of solutions. It uses multiple procurement stages to test out the best solutions, works closely with suppliers and builds confidence in implementation and investment decisions.
Innovation procurement provides access to the most recent market expertise and the latest technology. It can improve project outcomes and enhance the longevity of solutions.
Within these pages, you will find guidance to support you to adopt innovation-friendly practices and buy digital innovation in the NSW Government.
This guidance is being created progressively and some resources are still in development. The Test and Buy Innovation advisory team may be able to support you with prototypes or examples from other projects in the meantime. Contact the team via email: InnovationProcurement@customerservice.nsw.gov.au.
Understand Test and Buy Innovation and check if it’s right for your buying project.
Learn how to navigate the Test and Buy Innovation journey.
Set your innovation buying project up for success, step by step.
Identify, engage and manage the experts you need to support your project's success.
Attract innovation with a challenge statement for the market to solve.
Design a pathway that supports optimal innovation outcomes.
Learn how to apply your agency's risk framework to an innovation buying project and navigate amplified probity risks.
A guide to conducting market research while staying open to innovation.
Learn how to apply an outcome-focused, staged approach to your buying project, while managing change.
Adopt a staged approach to business decisions that supports innovation and gathers evidence to manages risks.
Structure requirements that involve uncertainty and set outcome-focused valuation criteria.
Document how your market approach will achieve buying objectives and comply with procurement policies.
Access agile method resources for project management and procurement.
Find relevant policy provisions so you can remain compliant while driving great outcomes.
Manage uncertainty during the sourcing stage of buying innovation.