The framework
How Commonwealth procurement works
Almost all Australian Government buying runs on one rulebook: the Commonwealth Procurement Rules. Understand these and the rest of the system makes sense.
The Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPRs)
The CPRs are the core framework that non-corporate Commonwealth entities must follow when they buy goods and services. They are issued by the Minister for Finance and administered by the Department of Finance. The governing principle is value for money — which is not the same as lowest price; it weighs quality, fit, risk, and whole-of-life cost.
Other principles run alongside it: encouraging competition, efficient and ethical use of public resources, accountability and transparency, and considering the broader economic, environmental and social impacts of a purchase.
Value thresholds
The procurement method a buyer can use depends largely on the estimated value of the contract. Below the relevant threshold, an entity has more flexibility; at or above it, the default is an open approach to market unless an exemption applies. Thresholds differ for non-corporate entities, for construction, and for procurements covered by Australia's international trade obligations.
How a buyer approaches the market
Open tender
Published on AusTender and open to any supplier that meets the conditions. The default for procurements at or above the threshold.
Prequalified / panel
Buying from suppliers already assessed onto a standing arrangement or panel, which narrows who can respond.
Limited tender
Approaching one or more chosen suppliers directly, only where specific conditions in the CPRs are met.
Where opportunities are published
Procurement opportunities and awarded contracts appear on AusTender (tenders.gov.au). Grants are published on GrantConnect (grants.gov.au). ICT-specific opportunities and arrangements run through BuyICT (buyict.gov.au). This site collects all three daily — see Opportunities.
What this means if you want to sell to government
Get visible before the tender drops: many opportunities are shaped during market research and through panels. Register where relevant, watch the right channels, and respond to what the rules actually ask for rather than what you'd like to pitch. The assistant can help you interpret a specific requirement — ask it.