The following information will provide you with an overview of our tendering process.
See also:
Finding tender opportunities
We advertise all open approaches to market (ATM) on AusTenderExternal Link.
After registering with AusTender you can:
- set up alerts to be notified of business opportunities that match your business profile
- download tender documents
- lodge tender responses
- find details about successful tenderers and existing contracts.
The Department of Finance's Guide to SellingExternal Link provides general information on how to prepare tenders for the Australian Government and the Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) lists additional information for Selling digital products and services to governmentExternal Link.
Public interest certificates
Under the Government Procurement (Judicial Review) Act 2018 (Cth), certain types of procurements may be suspended while complaints are being investigated or injunctions are being considered.
Relevant Commonwealth entities like us may issue a public interest certificate in circumstances where they consider that it is not in the public interest for a particular procurement process to be suspended.
Where we have issued a public interest certificate, it will be published on our website.
Submitting a tender request
The first step when applying for an open tender is to understand what we are looking for by searching on AusTenderExternal Link and identify open tenders that may be of interest to you.
You can review the details of each tender to get an idea of the specific requirements of the goods or services we are looking to procure.
Each publication also contains Approach to Market (ATM) documents, which provide additional information regarding the tender.
It is important you review the ATM documents to have an understanding of what we are looking for and to help in preparing your response.
To apply for an open tender, you will need to prepare and submit a response in accordance with the ATM documentation via AusTenderExternal Link before the closing date and time.
Late applications
Tenders received after the specified closing date and time are deemed late and cannot be accepted unless the delay is due to mishandling by us, or a technical issue with AusTender.
Other information
Understanding the responsibilities each party has, in conjunction with the tender requirements, can assist you in targeting your tender response.
You can gain a general understanding of each party’s procurement responsibilities by referring to our Guidelines for contractors and suppliers page.
The Department of Finance's Guide to SellingExternal Link provides additional information on how to prepare tenders for the Australian Government and the Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) lists additional information for Selling digital products and services to governmentExternal Link.
After submission
After the tender close date and time have ended on AusTenderExternal Link, we will collate and assess all on time submissions against the ATM specifications, any mandatory conditions for participation and determine which offers provide value for money.
A contract that achieves value for money is not simply the application with the lowest initial price. We take a whole-of-contract approach to assessing each submission, where we will consider all relevant financial and non-financial costs and benefits associated with a procurement.
Both successful and unsuccessful applicants are able to request feedback regarding their response after we have finished reviewing tender submissions.
Notification of successful and unsuccessful applications
If you are successful or unsuccessful in a tender, we will notify you in writing.
Prior to sending a final contract to a supplier for a successful tender, we will generally contract you to discuss and clarify terms and conditions of a procurement.
Once all terms and conditions are agreed upon, a final contract is issued.
Publishing on AusTender
For those awarded a contract with the ATO for above $10,000 (including GST) we will publish high level supplier details on the AusTender's Contract Notice ListExternal Link within 42 days from the time the contract is entered into.
Details of contracts awarded below the reporting threshold value of $10,000 (including GST) are exempt from reporting requirements and are not published on AusTender.
End of contract
After a procurement has ended with the ATO, you may still have responsibilities surrounding what you can and cannot disclose to other organisations. You may also be required to dispose or return information through specific channels.
To ensure you are complying with your obligations even after your contract has ended, refer to the conditions in your contract in the first instance. If you have specific questions regarding your contract, contact your contract manager.
For general information regarding record keeping see Information management for our contractors.
The following information will provide you with an overview of the ATO's tendering process.