Overview

Catchment Collective

What the Catchment Collective Is

The Catchment Collective is a simple, practical way for suppliers to meet the Social Procurement Framework (SPF) and Local Jobs First requirements by supporting local environmental and community activities in regional Victoria.

It gives suppliers a trusted, low risk, ready-made pathway to show genuine, auditable local impact in competitive tenders.

North Central CMA coordinates the program. Local delivery partners carry out the work on the ground. This ensures activities are practical, compliant, regionally delivered, and easy to report.

Why the Catchment Collective exists

Meeting SPF requirements is much harder in regional Victoria than in metropolitan areas. Suppliers often tell us they cannot find:

• Local groups available to partner with
• Activities that match tender needs
• Projects that are scalable to their budget
• Clear reporting that meets procurement rules
• Credible local evidence they can reuse in future bids
  

From 1 July 2026, these challenges become more significant because SPF and Local Jobs First requirements will become mandatory, auditable, and closely monitored. This means suppliers need reliable, regionally delivered options that can be documented and verified.

The Catchment Collective solves this problem by providing simple, pre developed, regionally focused work packages that suppliers can include directly in tenders. These packages are:

• Local
• Policy aligned
• Scalable
• Affordable
• Auditable
• Easy to understand and explain

Suppliers can use the model free-of-charge for bidding and only make their contribution if they are invited to supply.

About North Central CMA

North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) is a Victorian statutory authority with more than 25 years of experience working across north central Victoria. The CMA is responsible for protecting and improving the regions:

• Waterways and wetlands
• Biodiversity and habitat
• Land and soil health
• Climate resilience and natural systems
• Community engagement and environmental education

The CMA works closely with:

• Traditional Owner organisations
• Landcare groups and volunteer networks
• Local councils and water authorities
• Community organisations and schools
• Regional businesses, contractors and specialists

This long standing network gives the Catchment Collective a trusted regional delivery system with strong governance, established partnerships, and transparent reporting aligned with government expectations.

What your pledge supports

Your contribution supports real groups, real people, and real places in the region. Funding flows directly to the delivery partners, not the CMA.

Environmental and climate projects

• Tree planting and habitat restoration
• Waterway and wetland improvement
• Climate adaptation and landscape resilience
• Invasive species control and biodiversity recovery

Monitoring and reporting

• GIS mapping
• Environmental monitoring and surveys
• Citizen science activities
• Participation in regional reporting frameworks

Community and Education

• School based environmental programs
• Youth engagement and outdoor learning
• Community events, workshops and training
• Support for volunteers and Landcare groups

Regional Sustainability Support

• Circular economy initiatives
• Waste and resource efficiency programs
• Energy and emissions assessments
• Sustainability services for small businesses

All activities are selected to deliver real community benefit, strengthen regional capability, and help suppliers meet mandatory SPF and Local Jobs First commitments.

Value for Suppliers

The Catchment Collective helps suppliers:

• Show strong regional impact in tenders
  
• Demonstrate SPF alignment clearly and confidently
• Build a reliable ESG and sustainability profile
• Reduce administrative effort and risk
• Reuse evidence in future tenders
• Meet strict reporting and compliance expectations

Suppliers also benefit from CMA provided reporting, ensuring activities are auditable and aligned with government procurement requirements.

This is especially valuable because SPF and Local Jobs First can form up to 40% of total tender evaluation.

What it costs

Most suppliers meet SPF requirements by contributing 0.25% to 3% of total tender value, consistent with Victorian Government procurement guidance.

• You only make a contribution when invited to supply by the project owner
• The CMA does not take or hold your funds
• Funding flows directly to delivery partners
• CMA provides coordination at no additional charge
• Activities are scaled to suit the size of your tender
• Some partners hold DGR status, which may support tax deductibility

This makes the model suitable for tenders of all sizes - from small service contracts to major civil works.

Policies the Catchment Collective supports

Greenworks

The Greenworks package strongly aligns with the Victorian Social Procurement Framework by delivering Environmentally Sustainable Outputs, Climate Change Policy Objectives, and Sustainable Victorian Regions outcomes. By using local regional contractors and on ground crews, the package directly contributes to employment and operations in disadvantaged regional postcodes and supports job readiness in rural Victoria. Greenworks also provides measurable environmental improvements including habitat restoration, climate adaptation works, biodiversity enhancement, and carbon positive outcomes, giving suppliers clear, auditable evidence of SPF achievement in competitive tenders.

Community/River Detectives

The Community/River Detectives package aligns with SPF through Community and Social Benefit, Women's Equality and Safety / Gender Equality, Opportunities for Priority Jobseekers, and Sustainable Victorian Regions. The program engages local facilitators and educators, creates regionally based paid roles, and strengthens long-term job readiness for young people in regional communities. It provides accessible, curriculum aligned environmental education and community participation opportunities, enabling suppliers to demonstrate strong, regionally delivered social value outcomes that meet key SPF expectations.

Catchment Collective activities directly support:

• Victorian Social Procurement Framework - Sustainable Victorian Regions
• Local Jobs First - Regional jobs and local industry participation
• North Central Regional Catchment Strategy
• Victorian Government climate and sustainability policies
• Updated water authority procurement frameworks (from July 2026)

This ensures activities are not only compliant but also highly relevant to tender evaluators.

How the process works

1. Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) using your ICN Gateway profile.
2. CMA reviews capability and shortlists suppliers where appropriate.
3. Shortlisted suppliers select flexible work packages to match tender needs.
4. An MOU confirms the intent, contribution, and activities.
5. Local partners deliver the work on the ground.
6. CMA provides clean, auditable reporting for tenders and compliance.
7. All work packages follow consistent templates and regional standards.

Who should apply

The Catchment Collective suits suppliers bidding into:

• Water authorities
• Local councils
• Victorian Government departments
• Major projects in regional Victoria
• Environmental, civil, or construction works

It is especially helpful for businesses seeking:

• Strong SPF and Local Jobs First outcomes
• Simple, credible, regionally delivered activities
• Lower administrative burden
• Long term ESG benefits
• Trusted regional partnerships

Disclaimer

Participation in the Catchment Collective does not guarantee contract award. Activities are formalised only if a supplier is invited to supply and must meet all relevant procurement policy requirements.

HOW TO REGISTER AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI)

• To submit an EOI, companies must have an ICN Gateway company profile. Information on how to register your company on ICN Gateway is detailed below.
• The services, programmes and initiatives provided by ICN Victoria are aimed at complementing a company's existing Sales, Marketing and Business Development strategy and any EOI submitted should not be considered as an alternative to these activities.

ICN GATEWAY COMPANY REGISTRATION

• Click here to register your company profile on ICN Gateway.
• Support and assistance are available through the web links listed below.
• An ICN Gateway company profile that accurately and effectively summarises your company is critical to using the services of the ICN Group - please ensure that your company invests the time and energy required to represent your company in the most effective manner possible.
• Companies should ensure that the email notification functionality within their ICN Gateway company profile is activated to include an appropriate level of coverage to Information & Updates, Major Projects and Regional Opportunities.

1) Gateway by ICN Setup Wizard

2) Gateway by ICN User Guide

3) Gateway by ICN EOI User Guide

Key Documents