State 5 – Digital Sourcing
Provides strategic sourcing advice and ensures the government has access to value for money digital and ICT-enabled procurement arrangements.
What happens at this state
The DTA is responsible for whole-of-government digital and ICT procurement. We manage several marketplaces (panels) and Single Seller Arrangements (contracting frameworks) that aim to reduce costs, improve protections and promote innovative solutions for government buyers.
These marketplaces and Single Seller Arrangements are brought together on BuyICT, our easy-to-use online platform that streamlines the procurement process for government buyers and industry sellers. Our aim is to make procurement simple, clear and fast.
Through BuyICT, users can access useful information regarding the digital sourcing lifecycle, templated digital sourcing contracts and information on policy requirements.
Why is it important
The DTA provides digital sourcing advice and support to over 300 government organisations and over 2,900 approved sellers (April 2025) on a broad range of ICT procurement matters from simple to complex.
The government currently receives significant financial benefits from the DTAs Marketplaces and Arrangements through discounts and the avoidance of duplicative costs.
As an example, in the 2023-24 financial year the DTA delivered substantial savings and efficiencies through our panels and arrangements, resulting in an estimated return of $6.4 million to the consolidated revenue fund. These achievements are crucial as they demonstrate our commitment to providing value for money to the government.
In addition, we provide advice on the application of digital sourcing policies and manage the process for policy exemptions for contracts exceeding the $100M value limit or the 3-year term limit of the Digital Sourcing Contract Limits and Reviews Policy.
What agencies need to do
When buying digital products and services for government, agencies need to understand when and how to use the DTA’s digital sourcing policies and whole-of-government procurement arrangements. They also need to know how to buy digital products and services in line with the Commonwealth Procurement Rules and relevant procurement connected policies.
What the DTA will do
Our marketplaces provide government buyers with access to evaluated sellers who offer a range of digital products and services and have been assessed against relevant criteria and procurement connected policies, saving buyers time and resources.
Our Single Seller Arrangements offer pre-negotiated contracts with strategically identified sellers. These arrangements deliver cost efficiencies to government by aggregating demand and have better terms and conditions than traditionally offered by the sellers.
We also manage the policies that govern how agencies buy digital products and services which aim to simplify government procurement and level the playing field for industry sellers.