What are the objectives of government purchasing?
Tasmanian Government purchasing is conducted by encouraging fair and open competition between suppliers, with the objective of achieving best value for money. Government buyers must behave ethically and comply with a code of conduct. They must also enhance opportunities for local businesses to bid for government business.
For specific information on the purchasing principles and policies that government buyers must follow, see Purchasing Principles and Purchasing Policies.
Purchasing processes.
Government purchases are generally classified as being "Goods and Services", "Building Construction" or "Roads and Bridges".
The purchasing process used depends on what goods or services required and the value of the purchase. The purchasing processes used for different types and values of purchases are described in the following tables.
Goods and Services
| When the purchase value is...* | Market approach method used... | The purchasing process is managed by... | Of note ... |
| Less than $100 000
| At the discretion of agencies | Individual agencies | -
|
| $100 000 or more but less than $250 000 | Written Quotation | Individual agencies | A minimum of three (3) written responses must be sought. At least two (2) responses must be sought from Tasmanian businesses where capability exists.
|
| $250 000 and over | Open Tendering
| Individual agencies | The opportunity must be advertised on the Tenders website. At least two (2) responses must be sought from Tasmanian businesses where capability exists. |
* The dollar value thresholds exclude GST.
Building Construction (works)
| When the purchase value is...* | Market approach method used... | The purchasing process is managed by... | Of note ... |
| Less than $100 000
| At the discretion of agencies | Individual agencies
| -
|
| $100 000 or more but less than $500 000 (minor works) | Written Quotations | Individual agencies | A minimum of three (3) written responses must be sought. At least two (2) responses must be sought from Tasmanian businesses where capability exists. |
| $500 000 and over (major works) | Open Tendering
| Individual agencies | The opportunity must be advertised on the Tenders website. Where appropriate categories exist, only contractors prequalified with the Department of Treasury and Finance can be appointed. At least two (2) responses must be sought from Tasmanian businesses where capability exists. |
* The dollar value thresholds exclude GST.
Building Construction/Roads and Bridges (consultancies)
Where appropriate categories exist, only consultants prequalified with the Department of Treasury and Finance are able to be appointed. Information on prequalification is available from Prequalification.
Where prequalification is required, a selective tender process is generally used whereby one or more prequalified consultants are approached to submit a brief. Where there are no applicable prequalification categories, or for the engagement of consultants for roads and bridges projects, the following processes apply:
| When the purchase value is...* | Market approach method used... | The purchasing process is managed by... |
| Less than $100 000
| Seek at least one quotation | Individual agencies |
| $100 000 or more but less than $250 000 | Seek at least three quotations | Individual agencies |
| $250 000 and over | Open Tendering
| Individual agencies |
* The dollar value thresholds exclude GST.
Roads and Bridges (works)
| When the purchase value is...* | Market approach method used... | The purchasing process is managed by... | Of note ... |
| Less than $100 000
| At the discretion of agencies | Individual agencies but mainly Department of State Growth | -
|
| More than $100 000 but less than $500 000 (minor works) | Written quotations | Individual agencies but mainly Department of State Growth | A minimum of three (3) written responses must be sought. At least two (2) responses must be sought from Tasmanian businesses where capability exists. |
| $500 000 and over (major works) | Open Tendering
| Individual agencies but mainly Department of State Growth | The opportunities must be advertised on the Tenders website. For works, the Department of State Growth operates a prequalification system and where appropriate categories exist, only those contractors prequalified are able to be appointed. For open tendering, at least two (2) responses must be sought from Tasmanian businesses where capability exists. |
* The dollar value thresholds exclude GST.
Want to know more about the steps in the process? See Purchasing Process - Purchasing Steps.
Who purchases for the Government?
Purchasing is generally done by each government agency rather than by a central authority although for some goods and services contacts, a whole-of-government approach applies.
For more information see Who are the Buyers.