The Treasury's purchasing activities are undertaken in accordance with Government policy and best practice. Procurement of all goods and services is consistent with the requirements of the Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPRs). The Treasury applies the CPRs to all its activities through the Chief Executive Instructions and supporting operational guidelines.
The Treasury's purchasing processes focus on the core principle of value for money. This is achieved through:
- encouraging competitive and nondiscriminatory processes;
- using Commonwealth resources in an efficient, effective, economical and ethical manner that is consistent with the policies of the Commonwealth;
- making decisions in an accountable and transparent manner;
- considering the risks; and
- conducting a process commensurate with the scale and scope of the procurement.
Responsibility for procurement is delegated to individual groups with support from a central team of procurement specialists. The Treasury provides a central point of contact for staff seeking purchasing advice, and by providing ongoing support and training on procurement policies and procedures to staff. The Treasury's procurement framework makes appropriate financial delegates responsible for procurement. Currently, all proposed procurements valued at $10,000 or more are reviewed by the Treasury's Procurement Team to ensure due process is followed.
The Treasury publishes all contracts awarded with a value of $10,000 or more on the AusTender website at www.tenders.gov.au. An annual procurement plan lists significant procurements the department expects to undertake during the following year.