Frequently asked questions - tenders

Brisbane City Council has provided frequently asked questions and answers to help you when selling a product or service to Council. If you don’t find an answer here, contact Council’s Business Hotline on 133 BNE (133 263).

If your enquiry relates to a particular tender, please contact the Council Contact Officer for that tender, which can be found on the tender documents.

1. How do I sell my products and services to Council?
2. When is Council going out to tender for particular goods, services or works?
3. Where can I find information about Council’s Procurement Policy?
4. Where can I find information on quotes or tenders?
5. Who has been awarded a Council contract?
6. Who is a current supplier of goods and services to Council?
7. Will you accept a late tender?
8. What are Corporate Procurement Arrangements (CPAs)?
9. Can I lodge my tender via email, fax or hard copy?
10. I have to answer all the questions in the tender document?
11. Can I lobby Councillors regarding my tender?
12. How do I receive email notifications for tender opportunities?
13. Why aren’t I receiving tender alerts from the Supplier Portal?
14. Where can I find assistance to use the Supplier Portal?
15. Do I need a supplier login to access tender documents?
16. Can more than one login be created for a supplier account?
17. Must I use the same login used to download the documents to upload my tender?
18. What if I forget my password?
19. Is there any limit to the number and size of files comprising my tender submission?
20. How long will it take for attachments to my tender to upload?

1. How do I sell my products and services to Council?

Council generally seeks quotes and tenders to buy goods, services and works. Tender notices are advertised on the Supplier Portal and occasionally they are also advertised in the Tenders section of The Courier Mail (or other papers like the Financial Review or the Australian).

You can create a New Supplier account to view full quotes or tender documents and submit tenders online.

You can also register for tender email alerts when creating your account by choosing the categories that are relevant to you.

It is important to keep your account details up to date.

2. When is Council going out to tender for particular goods, services or works?

Council has a schedule of major tenders planned for each financial year which you can view in the Procurement Policy and Plan 2023-24 (Word - 928kb).

Register to receive alerts about these and all other tenders by going to the Supplier Portal.

3. Where can I find information about Council’s Procurement Policy?

Council’s procurement policy is available on Council’s website under the name of: 

4. Where can I find information on quotes or tenders?

Information on quotes and tenders can be found in tender opportunities.

5. Who has been awarded a Council tender?

View all the awarded contracts.

6. Who is a current supplier of goods and services to Council?

Awarded contracts will show current suppliers of goods and services.

7. Will you accept a late tender?

Late tenders will not be accepted, except where there are exceptional circumstances and this has been approved by Council. 

8. What are Corporate Procurement Arrangements (CPAs)?

CPAs include Panel Arrangements, Preferred Supplier Arrangements and Registers of Pre-Qualified Suppliers. Where Council has an ongoing requirement for particular goods, services or works, it may establish a Corporate Procurement Arrangement (CPA). CPAs are usually established by public tender and involve supplier agreement to terms and conditions of contract and sometimes rates. When Council needs goods, services or works covered by the CPA, Council does not need to call tenders and can instead use the CPA.

9. Can I lodge my tender via email?

No. Tenders can only be lodged in the manner specified in the Conditions of Tender.

10. Do I have to answer all the questions in the tender?

Yes. The questions in the tender and schedules are designed to ensure the best provider for the contract. Your responses are used in the tender evaluation. Failure to complete the information can result in your tender being marked as non-conforming.

11. Can I lobby Councillors regarding my tender?

No. Contacting Councillors or other officers about a tender is forbidden by the Conditions of Tender and will result in your tender being excluded by Council.

12. How do I receive email notifications for tender opportunities?

After you have logged in to the Supplier Portal, select Display/Edit Company Data. Select the Bidder Data tab, then select Edit. Choose the categories that are relevant to your business from the United Nations Standard Products and Services Code (UNSPSC) list.

Note that tender notifications will be sent to the contact person email that was provided at the time of registration. Company information cannot be updated directly in the Supplier Portal. Any updates to company information or contact person information (for receipt of tender notifications) must be requested by email.

Advice regarding future tenders is available on Tender opportunities.

13. Why aren’t I receiving tender alerts from the Supplier Portal?

You can register for tender email alerts via the Supplier Portal. After you have logged in, select Display/Edit Company Data. Select the Bidder Data tab, then select Edit. Choose the categories that are relevant to your business from the United Nations Standard Products and Services Code (UNSPCS) list.

Note that tender notifications will be sent to the contact person email that was provided at the time of registration. Company information cannot be updated directly in the Supplier Portal. Any updates to company information or contact person information (for receipt of tender notifications) must be requested by email.

14. Where can I find assistance in using the site?

Council has developed a detailed online training to assist you with navigating the Supplier Portal.

You will find detailed information about how to setting up a supplier account, viewing current/upcoming tenders, registering interest in a tender, accessing tender documents and responding to a tender in the Selling your products to Council section of the website.

15. Do I need a supplier login to download tender documents?

Yes. You need to create a supplier account to access tender documents.

16. Can more than one login be created for a supplier account?

No. For detailed information about how to create a supplier account, refer to the supplier registration online training and the Supplier Portal resources.

17. Must I use the same login and password I used to download the documents to upload my Tender?

Yes. If you don’t use the same login and password you will not be able to upload your tender.

18. What if I forget my password?

On the Supplier Portal login page, select Get Support. Then follow the prompts to complete the forgotten password process.

19. Is there any limit to the size of files comprising my tender submission?

The recommended size of attachment documents is generally less than 20 megabytes. The system has the capability to handle larger documents, however, note that very large documents over 20Mb will take more time to upload and this will need to be factored into the timing of your response.

If this will be a problem for you, contact the Council Contact Officer whose details will be in the tender documents.

20. How long will it take for attachments to my tender to upload?

Depending on your internet speed, the size of the document and many other factors, the time required to upload the tender document attachments may vary. You may choose to lodge larger files early and outside normal business hours, when Internet traffic is reduced. You should allow sufficient time to upload all documents.