Frequently Asked Questions: Government Buyers
Q. Where can I find information for suppliers?
A. Information for suppliers is available via the Tenders Website.
Q. Where can I get information about what’s available under State Purchase Contracts (Whole of Government contracts) or other Department's contracts?
A. The information is available at: State Purchase Contracts
Q. Who can use Whole of Government contracts?
A. In general, it is mandatory for Victorian Government departments and Victoria Police to buy from Whole of Government contracts.
The contracts can be used by Victorian Public Sector Entities, and by non-government organisations, subject to certain conditions. If you wish to check whether your organisation can use a Whole of Government contract, this information is available at State Purchase Contracts
Q. Who is required to comply with VGPB policy?
A. Compliance with VGPB policy is mandatory for government departments, Victoria Police and a small number of designated agencies. These agencies are the Victorian Auditor General’s Office, Office of Public Prosecutions, Office of the Chief Commissioner of Police, Office of the Ombudsman, Office of Public Employment, Essential Services Commission, Office of Legal Ombudsman, Victorian Electoral Commission and Ministerial Offices.
Q. Is there a State Tender Board in Victoria?
A. No, the Victorian Government Purchasing Board replaced the State Tender Board as from 1 February 1995.
Q. I don’t understand how a VGPB policy applies in a particular case. How can I get some help to interpret the policy?
A. You should seek advice from your Departmental Accredited Purchasing Units (APUs) in the first instance. The APU will refer the enquiry to the VGPB Secretariat, if necessary.
Q. Can I accept a late tender?
A. No. The VGPB policy on Receiving and Recording Public Tenders prohibits the acceptance of late tenders. The rationale for this policy is to ensure that proper process is followed and that all tenderers are treated equally.
Q. Where can I get information about training courses in procurement?
A. The training course information is available in the Paccer Material Page.
Q. I did a PACCER training course last week. When will I get my certificate?
A. This depends in part on the nature of the course, the trainer, and how long it takes to review all the workbooks. Generally, your certificate will take about three weeks to come through.
