​Using Panels

Australian Public Service officials are responsible under the Commonwealth Procurement Rules is to ensure procurement activities are conducted with integrity, transparency, and accountability. This includes correctly using panels - mechanisms designed to simplify procurement and deliver value for money across government for commonly used goods or services by the Commonwealth.

​Commonwealth procurement officials must engage in sound procurement practices when using panels. This course provides clarity around panels and standing offers in Australian Government procurement. It provides an overview of requirements, and when and how to use relevant panels. 

This learning experience has been provided by the Department of Finance.

Participant benefits

• ​Explain the role and purpose of panels and standing offers in Commonwealth procurement.  
• Identify steps to locate, assess, and select appropriate panels and suppliers.  
• Outline the Commonwealth Procurement Rules requirements when planning, conducting, and documenting panel procurements.
• Describe how to encourage competition, achieve value for money, and maintain transparency throughout a panel procurement.
• ​Describe how to manage contracts and supplier relationships under panels, including record-keeping, reporting obligations.
• ​Recognise common mistakes and compliance risks associated with panel use and describe strategies to avoid them. 

Suitable for

All staff. ​This course will benefit officials undertaking, or expecting to undertake, procurement activities, whether regularly or on an ad hoc basis. This includes APS undertaking, or expecting to undertake, a Commonwealth panel procurement.  

Considerations

• Assumed knowledge of procurement legislation and policy, the procurement lifecycle, value for money, and reporting. This could be through the Procurement Basics course or through prior training or experience. ​
• Assumed knowledge of contract management elements and activities. This could be through the Contract Management Basics course or through prior training or experience.

Key topics

• Coordinated and cooperative procurement arrangements.
• Mandatory WoAG Panel consideration.
• Using AusTender to locate relevant panels.
• Panel limitations to consider.
• Plan to procure from a panel.
• Approach the market.
• Evaluate and engage a panel supplier.
• Manage the contract.
• Setting up a new panel.
• ​Record keeping and reporting.
• Common mistakes to avoid. 

Category and User level

This learning experience is part of the Commonwealth Procurement and Contract Management Training program and aligns with the Procurement and Contract Management Profession Craft at the Foundation level. 

Price

Free of charge.