Further Context
CCAs vs other procurement and contracting arrangements
This summarises different procurement processes, including the DTA’s roles, for:
Consideration of different procurement mechanisms is vital to achieving the 1st principle.
Coordinated procurements
The Commonwealth Procurement Rules allows for Coordinated procurements, which are whole-of-Australian government arrangements, agreed by government. CCAs and panels (currently managed by the Department of Finance, the Attorney-General’s Department, or the Digital Transformation Agency) are listed on the Whole of Australian Government Procurement site.
Coordinated procurements are mandated for non-corporate Commonwealth entities (NCEs). Some coordinated procurements could allow other buyers to opt in, including:
- Commonwealth companies (CCs)
- Corporate Commonwealth entities (CCEs)
- Government Business Enterprises (GBEs)
- state and territory governments
- local governments
- public higher education institutions established by legislation.
The DTA manages centralised CCA elements, on behalf of entities. This can provide outcomes for the Australian Government at scale, while also assisting entities with the delivery of some contract management activities.
Cooperative procurements
Cooperative procurements can have two pathways:
- Entities approach the market and develop a new contract together.
- An entity leverages an existing contract if the goods and services are the same, the terms and conditions are not materially altered, and value for money is achieved.
In each situation the use of such an arrangement includes a requirement to determine if value for money will be achieved. Further information is available on the Cooperative Procurement site.
Leveraging its unique position to draw insights across the Australian Government’s digital and ICT investments, the DTA can assist entities to identify opportunities to voluntarily join up their efforts for greater efficiency, provided their procurement needs are similar, and appropriate market competition is maintained. These entities would then approach the market collectively, with the option for a Request for Information (RFI) to help themselves to clearly understand and describe their requirements, ahead of requesting responses to evaluation criteria.
Unlike coordinated procurements, the DTA does not provide a centralised function to assist with contract management for cooperative procurements.
Other market approaches
Other market approaches include:
- panels not listed on the Whole of Australian Government Procurement site
- open or limited tenders not mentioned elsewhere.
The Digital Sourcing Panels Policy, which applies to NCEs, certifies digital panels to ensure:
- Buyers receive a modern panel experience and have greater opportunities for buying the latest technology
- Sellers find panels that offer a better experience when selling to government.
The DTA also administers a number of these certified panels, ensuring buyers have access to head agreements which can help to streamline contracting, including buyer protections.
Our ambitions for digital
This appendix provides context for the Australian Government’s digital and ICT investments, including:
- our vision to deliver world class capabilities for people and business
- the rules and policy outcomes for government procurements
- the DTA’s role in helping entities to succeed.
The Australian Government has been recognised as a global leader in digital government within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). After our debut top 5 ranking in the OECD’s 2023 Digital Government Index, we rose to 2nd overall in the 2025 index (released in February 2026).
To meet the expectations of Australians, we will continue to deliver improvements to our portfolio of investments across the data, digital, and cyber ecosystem. The Data and Digital Government Strategy established a 2030 vision that the Australian Government will deliver simple, secure and connected public services, for all people and business, through world class data and digital capabilities. Further, the APS Data, Digital and Cyber Workforce Plan 2025–30 aspires to create a workforce that meets today’s demands and tomorrow’s opportunities.
The Australian Government Procurement Framework governs officials’ duties related to acquiring goods and services. The Commonwealth Procurement Rules are a legislative instrument and core to achieving value for money and addressing the needs, risks, and costs of a procurement. The government’s procurement connected policies leverage our collective buying power to improve a diversity of outcomes including skills, environmental sustainability, engagement with the tax system, social inclusion, industry participation opportunities, and more. Furthermore, the Commonwealth Supplier Code of Conduct and the DTA’s ICT procurement policies are also part of the broader Procurement Framework.
The Australian Government’s annual spend on ICT goods and services is significant. This buying power is an important lever that can help build the sector’s capability and increase growth. Delivering a government contract can be transformative for businesses, giving them the opportunity to innovate, scale up and demonstrate their capability. This can create significant and wide‑ranging economic benefits for Australia.
The Australian Government Digital and ICT Investment Oversight Framework (IOF) is an end-to-end framework for the government to plan, deliver, and manage digital investments across the entire project lifecycle. Most entities bringing forward or implementing digital and ICT-enabled investments are subject to its requirements. Further, the Australian Government Architecture makes it easier to understand how the directions and decisions of government for digital fit together.
Digital Sourcing is a significant state of the IOF. The Digital Sourcing Framework helps buyers purchase digital products and services, primarily through BuyICT.gov.au (which includes both marketplaces, panels and CCAs). The Strategic review of the whole of Australian Government single seller arrangements found that over 2019 to 2024, around 76 per cent of the spend profile went through digital marketplace panels other than single seller arrangements (SSAs). Of note, 99 per cent of public servants surveyed for the review agreed SSAs should exist either in their current format or with some changes. In June 2026, SSAs were renamed CCAs.