Frequently Asked Questions

Suppliers can:

• Provide and update information about their business capabilities
• Manage their own contact details for each panel arrangement they participate in

By allowing suppliers to maintain their own contact information:

• Communications from government agencies are more likely to reach the right people
• Procurement officials have access to the most current contact details when issuing Requests for Quote (RFQs)
• The risk of missed opportunities due to outdated information is reduced

The portal streamlines administrative processes, making interactions between suppliers and agencies more efficient, accurate and responsive.

A separate invitation and passcode will be sent to the contact details stored in AusTender. If you are unsure, you can always check this with the Panel Administrator, these details will be available within the panel head agreement, or you can find the contact on the relevant AusTender Standing Offer Notice.

No action is required until you receive your passcode and onboarding instructions. Once received, follow the steps provided in the communication.

Yes. Additional communications will be issued closer to your onboarding window. You can also refer to our News and Bulletin articles to see which panels are currently in the process of being onboarded.

Issue with a shared mailbox or expired e-mail address?

The AusTender invitation to join the Supplier Portal is issued to the contact details listed in AusTender under the panel arrangement details. If your business previously used a shared or group mailbox for panel communications, that address will be the default recipient.

Can an invitation be re-issued to my personal email address?

Yes. We prefer you to receive he invitation at your personal email address, you must contact the Panel Administrator to request an update to your contact details in AusTender. Once updated, the invitation can be re-issued.

How do I find the Panel Administrator’s contact details?

You can locate the Panel Administrator by:

• Visiting the AusTender Standing Offer search: https://www.tenders.gov.au/son/search
• Searching for your panel arrangement using the panel name or reference number
• Reviewing the “Contact Details” section on the panel’s page
• Checking any attached documents such as panel guides or FAQs for administrator contact information

What information should I provide to the Panel Administrator?

Include the following in your request:

• Your organisation’s name
• The panel arrangement name or reference number
• Your personal email address
• A brief explanation that the original invitation was sent to a shared mailbox and you require it to be re-issued

What happens after I contact the Panel Administrator?

The Panel Administrator will:

• Verify your identity and panel association
• Update your contact details in AusTender
• The AusTender system will then re-issue the invitation to your personal email address

If you are already registered in CRIIS as a Supplier, you do not need to create a new account or register again in the Supplier Portal. After receiving an invitation to access the Supplier Portal, use your CRIIS Supplier credentials. The Supplier Portal and CRIIS are both part of the Australian Government’s Central Procurement System.

If you have a CRIIS Supplier account, you may not need to access the Supplier Portal.  Access to the portal is by invitation which includes a secure link and access code. The portal is used by individuals who are responsible for responding to requests for quote under specific panels.  If you consider you do require access you should speak to the relevant officer in your organisation. They will be able to provide you with access.

If you are a supplier and do not yet have an account for the Supplier Portal, please note the following important information:

• Suppliers receive an invitation to register for the portal.
• Panels are being invited into the Supplier Portal in tranches. From 1 October only Management Advisory Services and People Panel suppliers have been invited. (For further detail on when your panel may be invited see the Onboarding Schedule)
• If your panel has been invited and you have not received an invitation, this means your business has not identified you as a specific contact in AusTender. You should speak to the relevant officer in your organisation responsible for receiving quotes from that panel. They will be able to provide you with access if you have an AusTender account.

You should continue to use it for new business opportunities and to respond to tenders as usual. Please note, your AusTender account cannot be used to access the Supplier Portal or the CRIIS system. Access to the Supplier Portal and CRIIS requires a separate account and login credentials.

For any questions about tendering processes or notifications, refer to the AusTender help resources (URL) or contact the AusTender support team.

The Supplier Portal is designed to display the official entity name as listed on the Australian Business Register (ABR). If a supplier utilises different business names for specific panels, these names will still be shown against the relevant panel, reflecting the name used in the deed or panel head agreement.

We acknowledge that some suppliers are more commonly recognised by their business names. In the next update to the Supplier Portal, the following enhancements will be available:

1.    Enhanced Search Functionality: The search feature will allow searches against the Entity Name, Business Name, and any Names associated with the ABN as set out on the panels.
2.    Businesses will soon have the option to select their preferred name for display from the list of Business Names registered in the ABR against their ABN. This functionality allows suppliers to showcase the name they commonly use, even if it differs from their legal name. 

Note: The Supplier Portal serves as an additional tool to complement existing processes used by government officials when procuring from panels. Officials will continue to use established panel search tools to identify suppliers initially and may use the Supplier Portal to supplement market research. These tools may show results for both legal and business names.