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Create AusTender alerts and a Supplier Portal profile. Keep ownership, size, location, categories and contacts accurate.
Federal work rewards a clean operating system.
Use AusTender and the Supplier Portal to get visible. Use the Commonwealth Procurement Rules, Supplier Code and connected-policy triggers to decide whether to lead, partner or subcontract.
Commonwealth-ready in eight moves
Make the business legible to a national buyer.
The current Commonwealth Procurement Rules took effect on 17 November 2025. The Supplier Portal became available to all businesses through AusTender in July 2026.
Define the business
Know whether the entity meets the CPR definition of an Australian business and whether it is an SME with fewer than 200 full-time-equivalent employees.
Read the whole pack
The ATM, draft contract, schedules, forms, security clauses and addenda form one job. Build the matrix before drafting prose.
Run the triggers
Test value, category, location, staff numbers, Indigenous participation, tax, skills, environment, payment times and industry participation.
Pass the Code
Prepare evidence for ethics, conflicts, governance, tax, records, WHS, workplace rights, human rights, environment, security and subcontractors.
Choose the role
Lead only if the entity can carry the contract. Otherwise offer a defined work package to a prime, panel member, consortium or joint venture.
Price delivery
Include reporting, security, travel, assurance, subcontract management, payment timing, insurances and contract risk.
Approve and lodge
Named people approve technical claims, partner evidence, price, declarations and departures. An authorised person lodges and retains the receipt.
Commonwealth value and policy triggers.
These are screening rules. Confirm the current ATM, entity type, exemption position and policy order before relying on them.
| Trigger | Likely effect | Bid action |
|---|---|---|
| $125,000+ non-construction for a non-corporate Commonwealth entity | CPR Division 2 generally applies unless exempt. | Expect open-tender and additional-rule settings. |
| $400,000+ non-construction for a prescribed corporate Commonwealth entity | CPR Division 2 generally applies unless exempt. | Confirm the buyer’s entity type and ATM method. |
| $7.5 million+ construction | CPR Division 2 threshold; Indigenous participation and environmental policy may also trigger by scope. | Run the complete connected-policy matrix. |
| $4 million+ | A satisfactory Statement of Tax Record may be required from the tenderer and known first-tier subcontractors. | Check tax records early; partner gaps can block the bid. |
| 100+ employees at the relevant procurement threshold | A current WGEA letter of compliance may be required. | Confirm the letter before submission. |
| $80,000–$200,000 wholly delivered in Australia, or remote procurement | The Indigenous Procurement Policy Mandatory Set Aside may apply. | Check eligible Indigenous business availability and the ATM. |
| $7.5 million+ wholly delivered in Australia in one of 19 industries | Mandatory Minimum Indigenous Participation Requirements may apply. | Build a measurable participation plan and reporting system. |
| $10 million+ eligible construction, maintenance or ICT | Australian Skills Guarantee targets may apply. | Price apprentices, trainees and reporting into delivery. |
| $7.5 million+ construction, or $1 million+ covered furniture, ICT goods or textiles | A Supplier Environmental Sustainability Plan may be required. | Assign targets, actions, evidence and reporting owners. |
| $20 million+ | A Commonwealth Australian Industry Participation plan may be required. | Map Australian capability and supply-chain participation. |
Official rules: procurement thresholds and procurement-connected policies.
Australian business
Keep the definition evidence ready.
A Commonwealth Australian business must meet the ownership or Australian-market-listing test, be an Australian tax resident and have its principal place of business in Australia.
Security
Match the control to the contract.
Government information, systems, people, facilities and Defence work can add PSPF, Essential Eight, clearances, IRAP or DISP requirements. Claim only the controls and memberships the entity can prove.
Australian Government source layer.
Federal procurement language can be dense. Read the live approach to market, then decide whether to lead, partner, subcontract or learn for next time.