{
  "reviewed_at": "2026-07-25",
  "scope": "Plain-English contractor readiness for Australian, Queensland and Commonwealth procurement. Every live approach to market can add, remove or change requirements.",
  "public_boundary": "This data is general information, not legal, tax, financial, insurance, engineering or procurement advice. Check the live tender pack and obtain professional advice before forming an entity, signing a collaboration agreement or accepting a contract.",
  "vehicle_options": [
    {
      "id": "sole-trader",
      "title": "Sole trader",
      "best_fit": "Testing small, lower-risk services where one person genuinely controls and delivers the work.",
      "watch": "You carry the business debts and liabilities personally. A larger or higher-risk contract may justify a different structure.",
      "source_url": "https://business.gov.au/planning/business-structures-and-types/business-structures/choose-your-business-structure"
    },
    {
      "id": "company",
      "title": "Company",
      "best_fit": "A separate legal entity for an ongoing delivery business, staff, assets, partners and larger contractual risk.",
      "watch": "Directors have legal duties. The company needs an ACN, its own ABN and TFN, annual review and proper records.",
      "source_url": "https://business.gov.au/registrations/register-a-company"
    },
    {
      "id": "incorporated-association",
      "title": "Queensland incorporated association",
      "best_fit": "A not-for-profit community group with at least 7 members, a committee, rules and a Queensland address.",
      "watch": "It is a legal entity and can contract, but its not-for-profit purpose, rules, reporting and committee authority still control what it may do.",
      "source_url": "https://www.qld.gov.au/community/fair-trading/associations-charities-and-non-profits/incorporated-associations/set-up-an-incorporated-association"
    },
    {
      "id": "indigenous-corporation",
      "title": "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation",
      "best_fit": "A First Nations-controlled corporation formed under the CATSI Act with an appropriate membership and governance base.",
      "watch": "This is a real governance choice, not a procurement shortcut. ORIC registration and Indigenous Procurement Policy eligibility have their own rules.",
      "source_url": "https://www.oric.gov.au/start-corporation"
    },
    {
      "id": "partner-route",
      "title": "Partner, consortium or subcontract route",
      "best_fit": "A group or young business contributes a clear delivery lane while a capable existing entity leads the contract.",
      "watch": "Use a written agreement. The prime remains answerable to government and usually remains responsible for subcontracted work.",
      "source_url": "https://www.business.qld.gov.au/running-business/marketing-sales/tendering/improve-approach/competitive/collaborative"
    }
  ],
  "universal_baseline": [
    {
      "id": "authority",
      "title": "Legal identity and signing authority",
      "plain_rule": "Name the exact legal entity that will tender and the person authorised to bind it.",
      "evidence": "Legal name, ABN, ACN or incorporation number, registered address, governing-rule check and written delegation or board resolution where needed.",
      "source_url": "https://business.gov.au/guide/starting"
    },
    {
      "id": "registrations",
      "title": "Business and tax registrations",
      "plain_rule": "Hold the registrations that apply to the chosen structure and expected turnover.",
      "evidence": "ABN, TFN, business name if needed, GST status, PAYG withholding status and director ID for company directors.",
      "source_url": "https://register.business.gov.au/"
    },
    {
      "id": "licences",
      "title": "Licences, permits and professional registrations",
      "plain_rule": "The people and entities doing regulated work must hold the right current authority for that work and location.",
      "evidence": "Licence register extracts, certificates, qualifications, RPEQ or other professional registration and an expiry register.",
      "source_url": "https://ablis.business.gov.au/"
    },
    {
      "id": "insurance",
      "title": "Insurance matched to the contract",
      "plain_rule": "Do not guess the cover. Check the tender's types, limits, exclusions, territory, run-off period and subcontractor conditions.",
      "evidence": "Current certificates of currency and broker confirmation for public liability, professional indemnity, workers compensation, motor, cyber or contract works where required.",
      "source_url": "https://business.gov.au/risk-management/insurance/types-of-business-insurance"
    },
    {
      "id": "workforce",
      "title": "Workforce law, safety and super",
      "plain_rule": "Classify workers honestly, pay lawful entitlements, manage WHS and hold workers compensation cover where required.",
      "evidence": "Employment or contractor records, awards check, payroll and super records, WHS system, incident process and WorkCover policy.",
      "source_url": "https://business.gov.au/people/contractors/contractor-responsibilities"
    },
    {
      "id": "finance",
      "title": "Financial capacity and cashflow",
      "plain_rule": "Show that the entity can fund wages, materials, travel, insurance, reporting and delays until payment arrives.",
      "evidence": "Costed price, cashflow forecast, accounts, tax status, credit or finance plan and financial-capacity evidence requested by the buyer.",
      "source_url": "https://business.gov.au/guide/starting"
    },
    {
      "id": "delivery-proof",
      "title": "Capability and delivery proof",
      "plain_rule": "Evidence must support the exact scope being promised.",
      "evidence": "Comparable projects, outcomes, photos with permission, referees, key-person CVs, methods, equipment, quality controls and honest limits.",
      "source_url": "https://www.business.qld.gov.au/running-business/marketing-sales/tendering/improve-approach/capability/steps"
    },
    {
      "id": "information",
      "title": "Privacy, confidentiality and cyber safety",
      "plain_rule": "Keep tender material, personal information, buyer data, credentials and commercial-in-confidence records in the correct private system.",
      "evidence": "Access controls, data map, backup and retention rules, incident process, approved AI-use boundary and contract-specific security controls.",
      "source_url": "https://www.cyber.gov.au/business-government/asds-cyber-security-frameworks/essential-eight"
    },
    {
      "id": "conflicts",
      "title": "Conflicts, probity and truthful declarations",
      "plain_rule": "Declare actual, potential and perceived conflicts. Never collude, offer inducements or invent compliance.",
      "evidence": "Conflict register, declarations, gifts policy, bid-team confidentiality rules and a record of assumptions and clarifications.",
      "source_url": "https://www.business.qld.gov.au/running-business/marketing-sales/tendering/supply-queensland-government/procurement-assurance-model/assurance-assessment-investigation-information-guide"
    },
    {
      "id": "contract-review",
      "title": "Contract and risk review",
      "plain_rule": "Read the proposed contract before pricing and before saying yes.",
      "evidence": "Reviewed departures, indemnity and liability position, intellectual property, insurance, payment, security, variation, termination, dispute and recordkeeping obligations.",
      "source_url": "https://business.gov.au/people/contractors/prepare-a-contract"
    }
  ],
  "queensland": [
    {
      "id": "qld-portal",
      "title": "Create the Queensland supplier profile",
      "applies_when": "General market visibility and supplier registration.",
      "action": "Create and maintain a free Supplier Portal profile with accurate categories and contact details; separately use QTenders and the forward pipeline.",
      "source_url": "https://www.business.qld.gov.au/running-business/marketing-sales/tendering/supply-queensland-government/resources"
    },
    {
      "id": "qld-code",
      "title": "Self-assess against the Supplier Code",
      "applies_when": "All Queensland Government procurement activities, regardless of value.",
      "action": "Check legal compliance, ethics, workplace practices, human rights, environment, conflicts, records and supply-chain behaviour before giving the tender warranty.",
      "source_url": "https://www.business.qld.gov.au/running-business/marketing-sales/tendering/supply-queensland-government/supplier-code-conduct"
    },
    {
      "id": "qld-pam",
      "title": "Prepare for procurement assurance",
      "applies_when": "Working under a Queensland Government contract from 1 January 2026.",
      "action": "Retain evidence of Code compliance. Principal contractors must flow Code obligations and measurable purposeful-procurement commitments into subcontracts.",
      "source_url": "https://www.business.qld.gov.au/running-business/marketing-sales/tendering/supply-queensland-government/procurement-assurance-model/guidance-suppliers"
    },
    {
      "id": "qld-purpose",
      "title": "Answer only the relevant public-purpose outcomes",
      "applies_when": "The quote or tender includes local, economic, environmental, social or governance outcomes.",
      "action": "Use specific, costed and measurable commitments. Do not promise every policy objective. Significant procurement uses a weighted purposeful-procurement criterion unless a reason is documented.",
      "source_url": "https://www.business.qld.gov.au/running-business/marketing-sales/tendering/supply-queensland-government/supplier-guide/supporting-purposeful-public-procurement"
    },
    {
      "id": "qld-pqc",
      "title": "Check building prequalification",
      "applies_when": "Direct Queensland Government building contracts over $1 million, or covered building consultancy commissions.",
      "action": "Check PQC eligibility, licences, experience, ethical-supplier evidence and financial capacity before treating the tender as leadable.",
      "source_url": "https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/building-property-development/building-construction/supply-queensland-government/prequalifying-major-projects/prequalification-system"
    },
    {
      "id": "qld-qbuild",
      "title": "Use the minor works and maintenance route",
      "applies_when": "QBuild minor works, service maintenance or work below the PQC major-project threshold.",
      "action": "Register with QBuild and meet the category, licence, insurance and contract requirements for the work offered.",
      "source_url": "https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/building-property-development/building-construction/supply-queensland-government/minor-works-maintenance/qbuild"
    },
    {
      "id": "qld-tmr",
      "title": "Check civil and transport schemes",
      "applies_when": "Road, bridge, asphalt or specialist transport infrastructure work.",
      "action": "Check the TMR Infrastructure Project Delivery System and National Prequalification System for the required contractor class and specialist registration.",
      "source_url": "https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/business-industry/Technical-standards-publications/TIPDS/Volume-3"
    }
  ],
  "commonwealth": [
    {
      "id": "cwlth-austender",
      "title": "Register on AusTender and the Supplier Portal",
      "applies_when": "Finding Commonwealth opportunities, plans, panels and awards.",
      "action": "Create the account, alerts and supplier profile. Keep business characteristics accurate; the Supplier Portal opened to all businesses from July 2026.",
      "source_url": "https://www.tenders.gov.au/"
    },
    {
      "id": "cwlth-australian-business",
      "title": "Know whether the entity is an Australian business",
      "applies_when": "Commonwealth procurement rules give Australian businesses or SMEs a defined pathway.",
      "action": "Be ready to evidence ownership or Australian market listing, Australian tax residence and the principal place of business in Australia.",
      "source_url": "https://www.finance.gov.au/government/procurement/defining-australian-business-commonwealth-procurement/guidance-definition-australian-or-new-zealand-business"
    },
    {
      "id": "cwlth-code",
      "title": "Prepare for the Commonwealth Supplier Code",
      "applies_when": "Commonwealth forms of contract, subject to documented exceptions.",
      "action": "Build proportionate evidence for ethics, conflicts, governance, tax, records, WHS, workplace rights, human rights, environment, security and subcontractor compliance.",
      "source_url": "https://www.finance.gov.au/government/procurement/ethical-conduct-suppliers/commonwealth-supplier-code-conduct/commonwealth-supplier-code-conduct"
    },
    {
      "id": "cwlth-pcp",
      "title": "Run the procurement-connected policy triggers",
      "applies_when": "The entity size, contract value, category, location or funding activates an extra policy.",
      "action": "Check the live request and the Finance policy table for Indigenous participation, tax records, payment times, gender equality, skills, environmental plans and Australian industry participation.",
      "source_url": "https://www.finance.gov.au/government/procurement/buying-australian-government/procurement-connected-policies"
    },
    {
      "id": "cwlth-security",
      "title": "Treat security as scope-specific",
      "applies_when": "The work handles government information, systems, facilities, people, Defence assets or classified material.",
      "action": "Read the contract security schedule. Do not claim Essential Eight, IRAP, clearances, PSPF alignment or DISP membership unless the evidence exists and the requirement applies.",
      "source_url": "https://www.protectivesecurity.gov.au/"
    }
  ],
  "triggered_overlays": [
    {
      "id": "cpr-nce",
      "trigger": "Commonwealth non-construction procurement by a non-corporate Commonwealth entity at $125,000 or more",
      "effect": "Division 2 of the Commonwealth Procurement Rules generally applies unless an exemption applies.",
      "source_url": "https://www.finance.gov.au/government/procurement/commonwealth-procurement-rules/procurement-method"
    },
    {
      "id": "cpr-cce",
      "trigger": "Non-construction procurement by a prescribed corporate Commonwealth entity at $400,000 or more",
      "effect": "Division 2 generally applies unless an exemption applies.",
      "source_url": "https://www.finance.gov.au/government/procurement/commonwealth-procurement-rules/procurement-method"
    },
    {
      "id": "cpr-construction",
      "trigger": "Commonwealth construction services procurement at $7.5 million or more",
      "effect": "Division 2 generally applies unless an exemption applies.",
      "source_url": "https://www.finance.gov.au/government/procurement/commonwealth-procurement-rules/procurement-method"
    },
    {
      "id": "str",
      "trigger": "Commonwealth procurement valued at $4 million or more",
      "effect": "The approach may require satisfactory Statements of Tax Record for the tenderer and known first-tier subcontractors.",
      "source_url": "https://sellingtogov.finance.gov.au/faq/minimum-requirements"
    },
    {
      "id": "wgea",
      "trigger": "A tenderer with 100 or more Australian employees and a procurement at or above the relevant Commonwealth threshold",
      "effect": "A WGEA letter of compliance may be required with the submission or before contract.",
      "source_url": "https://sellingtogov.finance.gov.au/faq/minimum-requirements"
    },
    {
      "id": "ipp-msa",
      "trigger": "Remote Commonwealth procurement, or other procurement wholly delivered in Australia valued from $80,000 to $200,000 GST inclusive",
      "effect": "The Indigenous Procurement Policy Mandatory Set Aside applies, subject to stated exceptions.",
      "source_url": "https://www.niaa.gov.au/our-work/employment-and-economic-development/indigenous-procurement-policy-ipp"
    },
    {
      "id": "ipp-mmr",
      "trigger": "Commonwealth contract wholly delivered in Australia valued at $7.5 million or more in one of 19 specified industries",
      "effect": "Mandatory Minimum Indigenous Participation Requirements apply.",
      "source_url": "https://www.niaa.gov.au/our-work/employment-and-economic-development/indigenous-procurement-policy-ipp"
    },
    {
      "id": "skills",
      "trigger": "Eligible Commonwealth construction, maintenance or ICT procurement valued at $10 million or more",
      "effect": "Australian Skills Guarantee targets may apply.",
      "source_url": "https://www.finance.gov.au/government/procurement/buying-australian-government/procurement-connected-policies"
    },
    {
      "id": "environment",
      "trigger": "Commonwealth construction procurement at $7.5 million or more, or covered furniture, ICT goods or textiles procurement at $1 million or more",
      "effect": "A Supplier Environmental Sustainability Plan and reporting may be required.",
      "source_url": "https://www.finance.gov.au/government/procurement/buying-australian-government/procurement-connected-policies"
    },
    {
      "id": "caip",
      "trigger": "Commonwealth procurement valued at $20 million or more",
      "effect": "The successful tenderer may need a Commonwealth Australian Industry Participation plan.",
      "source_url": "https://www.finance.gov.au/government/procurement/buying-australian-government/procurement-connected-policies"
    },
    {
      "id": "disp",
      "trigger": "Defence tender or contract requiring classified access, weapons or explosive ordnance, base security services, or DISP as a contract condition",
      "effect": "The required Defence Industry Security Program membership level must be in place.",
      "source_url": "https://www.defence.gov.au/business-industry/industry-governance/industry-regulators/defence-industry-security-program"
    }
  ],
  "strategic_examples": [
    {
      "id": "windemere",
      "title": "Windemere skate bowl refurbishment",
      "status": "Active council tender; internal finish line 5 August 2026; official close 2:00 pm 6 August 2026",
      "role_model": "VFG Skateparks leads technical delivery; Luke runs local bid systems and digital evidence; qualified specialists own regulated sign-off.",
      "next_action": "Complete the requirements matrix, field-proof Aura Scan to Twin, lock specialist evidence and freeze the approved response before portal day.",
      "source_url": "https://www.redland.qld.gov.au/Business-and-investment/Doing-business-with-Council/Current-and-upcoming-tenders"
    },
    {
      "id": "gumpi-ferry",
      "title": "Dunwich (Gumpi) Ferry Terminal Upgrade",
      "status": "$41 million SEQ City Deal commitment in planning; business case expected in late 2026",
      "role_model": "Prepare qualified local packages and partner with civil, marine, building, design and environmental primes able to carry the main contract.",
      "next_action": "Track the project and procurement pipeline, map likely work packages and build prequalification, company, evidence and partner readiness before release.",
      "source_url": "https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/dunwich-gumpi-ferry-terminal-upgrade"
    },
    {
      "id": "sandworm-grain-by-grain",
      "title": "Sandworm and Grain by Grain",
      "status": "Long-horizon proposal and capability programme, not a current government project or tender",
      "role_model": "Use research, simulation, robotics, maker training, digital twins and material testing to build future supplier capability rung by rung.",
      "next_action": "Separate proposed outcomes from evidence, define testable work packages and build the material, engineering, approvals and partner chain.",
      "source_url": "https://auraofintelligence.github.io/grain-by-grain/"
    }
  ],
  "human_gates": [
    "A human confirms the exact legal tenderer and authorised signatory.",
    "A human reads every addendum and confirms mandatory attendance, format and deadline rules.",
    "A qualified person confirms licences, engineering, safety, insurance, tax, employment, privacy and security claims.",
    "Every partner approves its role, price, evidence, intellectual property and public/private boundary.",
    "A human approves the final price, departures, declarations and contract-risk position.",
    "Only an authorised human lodges the response and retains the portal receipt.",
    "No LLM accepts a contract, signs a declaration, invents evidence or silently changes a lodged response."
  ]
}