AusTender (tenders.gov.au) is the Australian Government's central procurement information system, publishing business opportunities, annual procurement plans and awarded contracts. Suppliers create a free AusTender account, which is access-and-notification plus tender-lodgement rather than a standing qualified-vendor registry: registered users receive email notifications of matching opportunities, can download tender documents, and can lodge secure tender responses. There is no separate pre-qualification vendor register to bid on open approaches to market (the Supplier Portal is only needed for panel/standing-offer arrangements). Foreign suppliers are eligible under the non-discrimination principle of the Commonwealth Procurement Rules; an Australian Business Number (ABN) is typically required to enter into a contract and to avoid 47% PAYG withholding on payment.
Foreign companies eligibleNo local entity required to bid
No blanket requirement to incorporate an Australian entity to register on AusTender or to submit a tender. However, an ABN is generally required to enter into a Commonwealth contract and to be paid without 47% PAYG withholding; a non-resident business can obtain an ABN in its own name if it is carrying on an enterprise in Australia or making supplies connected with Australia's indirect tax zone (per ABR/ATO), so a locally incorporated subsidiary is not strictly mandatory. IMPORTANT (verify by value): under the CPRs effective 17 November 2025, non-corporate Commonwealth entities must, for procurements with an expected value between $10,000 and the procurement threshold ($125,000 for most non-construction procurements; $400,000 for other prescribed corporate Commonwealth entities), only invite Australian businesses to make submissions in the first instance (subject to Indigenous Procurement Policy and limited documented exceptions). Foreign suppliers therefore effectively compete mainly on procurements at/above the threshold or via open approaches. An 'Australian business' is defined as >=50% Australian owned (or principally listed on an Australian equities market), Australian tax resident, and with a principal place of business in Australia. Some contracts (e.g. national security) may require local presence or security clearances.
A foreign/non-resident company can apply for an ABN in its own name if it is carrying on an enterprise in Australia or making supplies connected with Australia's indirect tax zone. An ABN is generally required to enter into a Commonwealth contract; without a quoted ABN, an Australian payer (including a government agency) must withhold 47% from payments under PAYG. Apply free via the Australian Business Register. GST registration is separately required if GST turnover from Australian sales is A$75,000 or more (ABN is a prerequisite).
Create a free Registered User account on AusTender (tenders.gov.au). Registration is a simple online form (mandatory fields marked with an asterisk). Being a Registered User lets you receive automatic email notifications of matching business opportunities and planned procurements, download tender documents, receive addenda notifications, and lodge secure tender responses. Access to the Supplier Portal is NOT required to view or respond to standard open opportunities; it is only needed for suppliers participating on panel/standing-offer arrangements.
Configure notification filters (keywords, UNSPSC category and/or location) and optionally a watch-list so AusTender emails you when published Business Opportunities and Planned Procurements match your profile. Filters are cumulative; leaving filters unset returns notifications of all opportunities.
Identify a suitable open tender (Approach to Market) and prepare a response that meets any minimum requirements stated in the tender documents. Lodge the response securely through AusTender by the closing time. Insurance is generally not required merely to respond; specified insurances must be in place only prior to entering into a contract if you are successful, with type/level dependent on the procurement's value and risk.
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Create free accountAusTender registration is free; obtaining an ABN is free. Costs otherwise are the supplier's own bid-preparation and any contract-specified insurance.
Varies per tender — not a fixed registration time.
Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPRs), made under s.105B(1) of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013; current version effective 17 November 2025 (Department of Finance). The CPRs implement Australia's non-discrimination obligations under the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement and free trade agreements. See https://www.finance.gov.au/government/procurement/commonwealth-procurement-rules/how-use-commonwealth-procurement-rules
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This guide is grounded in official sources, last verified 2026-07-20.