Answers
Government contracting answers
Straight answers to the questions every new (and not-so-new) government suppliers asks.
How do I win Australian Government contracts?
Get an ABN, register on AusTender, work out which UNSPSC categories your work sits under, get onto the panels that matter in your market, and respond to the tenders you can actually win rather than all of them.
How do I register as a supplier on AusTender?
Registration is free at tenders.gov.au. You need an ABN, and you set up notification categories using UNSPSC codes so relevant tenders reach you by email.
What is a government panel, and how do I get on one?
A panel is a standing offer arrangement with multiple approved suppliers. Agencies buy by competing work among panellists, so if you are not on the panel you usually cannot respond at all.
What is a UNSPSC code and how do I choose the right ones?
UNSPSC is the eight digit category system AusTender classifies everything under. Choose the codes agencies actually publish work against, which is usually at family or class level rather than a precise commodity code.
What is the Commonwealth procurement threshold?
From 17 November 2025 it is $125,000 including GST for non-corporate Commonwealth entities, $400,000 for some prescribed corporate entities, and $7.5 million for construction. Above it, Division 2 of the Commonwealth Procurement Rules applies.
Are government contract values GST inclusive?
Yes. Every value published on AusTender and every threshold in the Commonwealth Procurement Rules is GST inclusive, even though most pricing schedules are written ex GST.
What is an ABN and why does it matter for tendering?
The ABN is the 11 digit Australian Business Number that identifies your business to government. It is what AusTender publishes as the supplier on every contract notice and what must appear on a valid tax invoice.
Can a small business realistically win Australian Government contracts?
Yes, and the rules are written to help. The government targets 25 per cent of contract value from SMEs under $1 billion and 40 per cent under $20 million, and Exemption 17 lets agencies engage an SME directly for procurements up to $500,000 including GST.
How do I find out about tenders before they are published?
Read annual procurement plans, watch contract notice expiry dates, and respond to requests for information. All three are published on AusTender months before the tender itself.
How does the Australian Government evaluate tender responses?
Against the conditions for participation first, which are pass or fail, and then against the published evaluation criteria. The standard is value for money over the whole of life, not lowest price.
What time do Australian Government tenders close?
At the date and time stated on the notice, in one jurisdiction's local time, most often ACT local time. A late response is normally excluded regardless of merit.
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