IPEA procurement
IPEA conducts a range of procurement activities to acquire goods and services and is committed to achieving value for money through application of the Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPRs).
To achieve value for money in all our procurements, IPEA:
- complies with the CPRs
- uses public resources in the most efficient, effective, ethical and economic manner
- encourages competition and makes decisions that are accountable and transparent
- considers relevant financial and non-financial costs and benefits when determining procurement outcomes.
For transparency, all of our open tender opportunities are published on AusTender along with all awarded contracts greater than $10,000.
Fair treatment
As a potential or current supplier to IPEA, you have the right to be treated fairly throughout the procurement process and to have complaints investigated in a timely manner and without disadvantage.
If you have a complaint about a procurement process, in the first instance, please use the contact details provided in the tender opportunity.
If you are still not satisfied and your complaint is about a breach of the Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPRs) you may wish to consider lodging a formal procurement complaint.
Formal procurement complaints of a breach of the CPRs
The Government Procurement (Judicial Review) Act 2018 (the Act) gives suppliers, and potential suppliers, the right to a judicial review of a procurement process if they believe IPEA has or will breach the Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPRs).
Procurement covered under the Act:
- goods and/or services at or above $80,000 (GST inc)
- construction services at or above $7.5 million (GST inc) not covered by an exemption
Under the Act, complaints of a breach of the CPRs must be made in writing immediately after becoming aware of the alleged breach of the relevant CPRs.
The Act requires that IPEA formally investigate these complaints made in accordance with the Act, and suspend procurements during the investigation of a complaint under the Act, unless a public interest certificate is in place.
For more information on your obligations as a supplier when raising a complaint, see the 'Selling to Government Guide' on the Department of Finance website.
How to submit a procurement complaint
Send your complaint with copies of all relevant documents by email to tenders@ipea.gov.au.
To help us resolve your complaint quickly, include the following information in your written submission:
- your name, supplier business name, ABN, address, phone and email
- details of the procurement including the goods and/or services, estimated contract value (if known), relevant times and dates, any AusTender IDs relating to the Approach to Market or Contract Notice and the United Nations Standard Products and Services Code (UNSPSC) (if known)
- a factual and concise outline of your complaint and any Commonwealth Procurement Rules you believe we breached
- any other information, documents or evidence to support your complaint
How will your complaint be handled?
IPEA will commence an investigation into a complaint of a breach of the CPRs once received.
The complainant will be advised of the findings once the investigation is complete.
IPEA will engage with the complainant as far as practicable to resolve the complaint.
Please note: The complainant is welcome to notify IPEA at any time that their complaint has been resolved or withdrawn.
Other avenues for complaints?
Other avenues to raise complaints, which are separate to the complaint mechanism established by the Act continue to be available to suppliers including the:
Public interest certificates
In some circumstances suspension of a procurement activity may not be in the public interest. In these circumstances a Public Interest Certificate (PIC) may be issued.
A PIC is a document issued by the accountable authority in accordance with section 22 of the Government Procurement (Judicial Review) Act 2018.
PICs issue by IPEA will be published on this page.
The PIC will state that it is not in the public interest for the procurement to be suspended while complaints under section 18 of the Act are being investigated or applications for injunctions are being considered.
A PIC may be issued at any stage during the procurement process, including after a complaint is made. Once a PIC is issued the procurement may continue as scheduled.
In some circumstances, given the scale or significance of a procurement IPEA may issue a PIC before approaching the market.
| Procurement activity | Date PIC issues | Link to PIC document |
|---|---|---|
| Travel management services | 8 April 2021 |
|
More information
Enquiries about IPEA’s procurement processes can be directed to: tenders@ipea.gov.au
