Complaints about our procurement

You can make a complaint if you:

• are unhappy about the way we have procured goods and/or services
• believe our department has breached Commonwealth Procurement Rules under the Government Procurement (Judicial Review) Act 2018.

Complaints about our procurement process

Where there is a complaint relating to our procurement process, you can make a complaint to our Finance team at [email protected].

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 service, estimated contract value, relevant times and dates, AusTender ID and UNSPSC code (if known)
• a comprehensive outline of your complaint and any Commonwealth Procurement Rules you believe we breached
• attach any documents or evidence to support your complaint.

When we receive your complaint we will:

• acknowledge we have received your complaint within 3 business days
• ensure an independent official is assigned to your matter, who will investigate and work with you to resolve the issue within 10 days
• let you know if it will take longer.

If you are happy with the final outcome, we will close the matter and consider it resolved.

If you are not happy with the outcome, you can raise it with the Australian Government Procurement Coordinator or Commonwealth Ombudsman.

Complaints about breaches of Commonwealth Procurement Rules

The Government Procurement (Judicial Review) Act 2018 protects the rights of suppliers or potential suppliers to government agencies.

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.

If you believe the Office of the Australian Accounting Standards Board has breached Commonwealth Procurement Rules, you can email us at [email protected].

When we receive your complaint we will:

• acknowledge we have received your complaint within 3 business days
• assess whether it meets the criteria under the Act
• if appropriate suspend the procurement unless a public interest certificate is issued
• ensure your complaint is reviewed by someone who is independent of the procurement in question, who will investigate and work with you to resolve the issue within 10 days
• let you know if it will take longer.

At the end of the process, you will receive a report on the outcome of the investigation.

You can also apply to the court for an injunction or compensation under the Act. Note that you need to submit a complaint with us first and show how the breach affected your interests.

You can access the Commonwealth Procurement Rules and exemptions on the Department of Finance website.

Making a Public Interest Disclosure

Information about our Public Interest Disclosure procedures are available on our Public Interest Disclosure procedures page.