This section outlines some frequently asked questions around using AusTender. It is intended to complement the information available under:
- Identifying opportunities to sell to government
- Getting selected to supply to government
- Responding to an approach to market
What is AusTender?
AusTender is the Australian Government’s procurement information system. It provides centralised publication of Australian Government business opportunities, annual procurement plans and contracts awarded.
AusTender registration is easy and free. Information and tips for registering on AusTender can be found on Becoming a Registered User.
When you have registered as a user on AusTender, the system will match business opportunities and planned procurements with the areas of interest specified in the profile for your business when you registered. You will be sent an email summarising ATMs that match your profile along with links to download the ATM documents and details about who to contact if you have any questions about the opportunity.
You will find most open approaches to the market advertised online through AusTender.
There are several categories of information listed on AusTender:
- closed and current approaches to market
- contract notices
- standing offer notices
- reports
- Annual Procurement Plans.
Search functions on AusTender help you identify individual tenders or contracts which may be of interest. For example, you can search for relevant business opportunities based on a variety of indicators including the organisation name, category of goods or services, or the closing date for submissions.
Details of contracts and standing offers valued at $10,000 or more can be found on AusTender as Contract Notices and can be viewed online. This information may be particularly useful for unsuccessful tenderers in identifying key competitors, and for general background research on what Australian Government organisations are buying.
Further information on how to use AusTender is available on the AusTender Help and Information Centre website.
How can I get information from AusTender?
One of AusTender's most important features for any potential supplier to the Australian Government are the notification settings that allow you to register your area of business interest and receive free automatic email notifications of the latest business opportunities as they are advertised. You will then be able to:
- view and download current ATM tender documentation
- lodge submissions in response to market approaches.
When you register with AusTender, it is important to specify the widest range of relevant keywords to make sure you are notified of all possible opportunities.
The AusTender Help and Information Centre also includes a variety of guidance and reports to help you better understand opportunities in your sector and potential buyers.
These include:
- current Approaches to Market, which provides insights into all currently open approaches to market that may be of interest to your business.
- Future Planned Procurements, which provides insights into planned procurements that may be of potential to your business.
- what the Government Buys, which provides insights into what goods and services Australian Government organisations are contracting.
Can I use AusTender to discover every new business opportunity with the Australian Government?
All open ATMs are published on AusTender, which is free to join and use.
If you are invited to participate in a limited tender, you will be contacted by the Australian Government buyer directly with the tender details. These procurement processes only happen in specific circumstances.
Australian Government organisations may also publish advanced notice of their longer-term procurement plans through an Annual Procurement Plan (APP), which is published on AusTender.
It is important to note that APPs are an indication of what organisations expect to procure each year and are based on the best information available at the time of publication. Planned procurements may be revised, withdrawn, or cancelled, and the organisation may undertake procurements that have not been previously identified in APPs.
How do I get help using AusTender?
AusTender is supported by a professional and dedicated team who are ready to assist you.
The AusTender Help Desk is available between 9am and 5pm AEDT / AEST, Monday to Friday (excluding ACT and national public holidays).
You can contact the AusTender Help Desk by completing the Contact Us form available on the AusTender website.
Please note questions regarding any aspect of a specific ATM or its ATM documentation should be directed to the nominated agency contact officer for that ATM.
Further information on how to use AusTender is available on the AusTender Help and Information Centre.
