Western Australia Government - Department of Finance 
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Government Procurement

Purchasing Methods

How you go about purchasing goods and services on behalf of the State depends greatly on the value of what you want to buy. The buyer decision chart is an interactive tool that walks you through the buying process.

Regardless of the value, the first step toward making any purchase is ensuring that what you want is not already included on a Common Use Arrangement (CUA). Most CUAs are mandatory for use in the Perth region. A list of all current CUAs is available from ContractsWA.

Where there is no CUA in place to buy what you need, one of the next four purchasing methods should be used.

Monetary Threshold

Purchasing Method
Up to $5,000 Direct purchase; multiple quotes are not required.
$5,001 - $20,000 Request sufficient verbal quotes
$20,000 - $150,000* Request sufficient written quotes
$150,000 and above* Open Tender through Tenders WA

*For all purchases over $20,000 (incl. GST), all public authorities must engage Government Procurement (GP). If you’re not sure who your GP representative is check out the Client Agency by Cluster contact list.

More information about these purchasing thresholds and methods can be found on the State Supply Commission website, in the Procurement Practice Guide (including appendices), or Procurement Practice Guide – Risk Management Appendix, available under Guidelines and Templates.

Note: For procurement under the Public Works Act 1902, please contact Building Management and Works.


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