The Web site, www.tenders.gov.au, is intended to enable government agencies to advertise business opportunities online and make tender documentation available for download, as well as allowing suppliers to submit tender responses electronically.
"AusTender 'levels the playing field' for small to medium enterprises," said the Minister for Information Technology, Communication and the Arts, Daryl Wiliams. "It allows them to access tender information and pursue business opportunities outside of traditional business hours in a simple, time efficient manner. This improves their competitiveness in responding to Australian government tenders."
The federal government has long been accused of tendering IT projects in a way which favours multinational companies over Australian small to medium enterprises.
Earlier this year the Department of Defence began investigating claims an equipment tender was rigged to exclude local companies in favour of a U.S. multinational.
Williams said the new online tender site had three main benefits:
- increased time for bid development as suppliers don't have to wait for documentation to be sent to them or to allow time for posting their response to the relevant agency;
- reduced costs of responding to tenders as there is no printing, binding or delivery costs; and
- a secure, geographically independent lodgement service, allowing suppliers to do business with government when and where they prefer.
