Part 3: Management and Accountability (continued)

Date

Purchasing

The Treasury’s procurement framework reflects the core principle governing Australian Government procurement — value for money. Procurement of all goods and services, including consultancies, is consistent with the requirements of the Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines. The Treasury applies the guidelines to all its activities through the Chief Executive Instructions and supporting operational guidelines.

The Treasury’s procurement policies and processes help ensure the Treasury undertakes competitive, nondiscriminatory procurement processes; uses resources efficiently, effectively and ethically; and makes decisions in an accountable and transparent manner. Individual areas are responsible for procurement with support from a central team of procurement specialists. The central team provides information and training about procurement policies and procedures to all staff, and maintains a single point of contact for staff to seek advice on the guidelines, Chief Executive Instructions and tendering processes.

The Treasury also developed standard tendering and contracting documentation to ensure procurement practices are consistent across the department.

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 and Contracts Team to ensure due process is followed.

The Treasury publishes information about significant procurements the department expects to undertake during the following year in an annual procurement plan, available on the AusTender website at www.tenders.gov.au.