Looking for tenders in ACT? You’re not alone. Finding the right opportunities can feel overwhelming but it doesn’t have to. This guide shows you where to look, what platforms actually work, and how to set yourself up for success.
If you're a business owner or bid manager in the ACT, here’s your heads-up: now is the time to double down on tendering opportunities across Canberra and the region.
Strategic procurement planning is well underway, and a steady stream of RFx (Requests for Tender/Quote/Proposal) are being released by ACT Government directorates, Commonwealth agencies and the surrounding region. Whether you're in infrastructure, services, training, tech, or consulting, there’s opportunity here for you.
Start with two portals, not one. Tenders ACT is the main source for ACT Government work, so register a supplier profile, save searches and turn on alerts. But Canberra runs on federal money, so AusTender sits right beside it, not below it. And a lot of ACT work is bought by quotation or direct approach rather than open tender. Non-construction packages up to $500,000 and construction up to $1 million can be handled as limited tenders, and from 1 July 2026 a buyer can go to a single Canberra-region SME or certified Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander business for a written quote. Being registered and correctly categorised matters as much as searching.
Two ACT rules shape how you bid. From $200,000, the Canberra Region Local Industry Participation Policy applies through the Economic Contribution Test, and at $5 million and above you submit a full Local Industry Participation plan. It is scored and weighted, so give real numbers: how many locals you employ, the apprentices you will take on, the local suppliers you will use. Generic lines about supporting local score nothing. And if you bid for construction, cleaning, security or traffic management, you need a Secure Local Jobs Code Certificate before you tender, not after. It is an entry cost no other jurisdiction imposes, so sort it early.
Where to find current and upcoming ACT tenders:
- ACT Government contracts (tenders.act.gov.au)
- Commonwealth and Defence work via AusTender
- Aggregators of public and private sector tenders
| Site | Best for | URL |
|---|---|---|
| Tenders ACT | ACT Government contracts: construction, ICT, services, plus future opportunities and awarded contracts | https://www.tenders.act.gov.au/ets/index.do |
| AusTender | Commonwealth and Defence work, essential in Canberra | https://www.tenders.gov.au |
| Procurement ACT (Future Opportunities / Infrastructure Canberra) | Advance tender notices and the monthly capital-works pipeline | https://www.procurement.act.gov.au/supplying-to-act-government/find-opportunities-for-your-business/future-opportunities |
| ACT Government panels and multi-use lists | Standing arrangements for repeat purchasing, advertised via Tenders ACT | https://www.procurement.act.gov.au/supplying-to-act-government/getting-ready-to-work-with-the-act-government/ways-to-supply |
| Australian Government Supplier Portal | Commonwealth supplier visibility, panels and professional services | https://sellingtogov.finance.gov.au/ |
| ICN Gateway | Major projects and work packages: infrastructure, engineering, construction, supply chains | https://gateway.icn.org.au |
| Defence Estate Works Program (Tender Forecast) | Planned Defence construction, facilities and maintenance releases | https://www.defence.gov.au/business-industry/finding-opportunities/estate-works-program-tender-forecast |
| ANU / University of Canberra (TenderLink) | University buildings, maintenance, ICT, research equipment and services | https://illion.tenderlink.com |
| Canberra Region Joint Organisation (TenderLink) | Surrounding NSW council tenders: Queanbeyan-Palerang, Yass, Goulburn, Snowy Monaro | https://portal.tenderlink.com/crjo |
| ACT Contracts Register | Awarded ACT contracts over $25,000, for competitor and re-tender intelligence | https://www.procurement.act.gov.au/registers |
| EstimateOne | Commercial construction and subcontract packages | https://estimateone.com/tenders |
| Projectory | Early major-project and infrastructure intelligence | https://projectory.com.au/category/tenders |
| Oracle BidContender | Construction tendering and subcontractor invitations | https://www.new.constructionadvisor.com.au/bid-contender |
| Australian Tenders | Broad AU/NZ tender aggregation | https://www.australiantenders.com.au |
| TenderSearch | Tender alerts, bid management and eProcurement | https://tendersearch.com.au |
| TenderHub | Broad Australian tender search | https://www.tenderhub.com.au |
| Tenders.Net | Broad AU/NZ tenders and public opportunities | https://tenders.net |
| Consolidated Tenders | Government tender alerts across Australia and New Zealand | https://www.consolidatedtenders.com.au |
| Australia Tender Alerts | AI-filtered government and private tender alerts | https://australiatenderalerts.com |
| Tender Prospect | AI-powered Australian government tender discovery | https://www.tenderprospect.com.au |
| GovMarket | Government tenders and competitor tracking | https://govmarket.com.au |
| BidShortlist | Shortlisted government tender alerts | https://bidshortlist.com.au |
| BidDetail Australia | Global tender database | https://www.biddetail.com/australia-tenders |
Bonus: Sign up for a 12-month subscription at Australian Tenders and use the code BIDBUDDY at checkout. You’ll get $100 off your annual plan. A small investment for a big pipeline boost.
Two things worth knowing before you start. Canberra has no council layer, which is one less system to chase. Plenty of work sits just over the border though. The Canberra Region Joint Organisation publishes tenders, RFQs and EOIs from surrounding NSW councils like Queanbeyan-Palerang, Yass, Goulburn and Snowy Monaro through TenderLink, so register there if you can work across the border. Universities are their own market: ANU and the University of Canberra both run TenderLink portals worth joining.
A word on the real edge here. Canberra rewards planning ahead. Procurement ACT publishes Advanced Tender Notices and an Infrastructure Canberra pipeline updated monthly, and Defence publishes an Estate Works Program tender forecast before jobs reach AusTender. Read them and you get time to line up your Secure Local Jobs Code Certificate, any prequalification, subcontractors and your local-participation numbers before the RFT drops. And mine the ACT Contracts Register and AusTender awarded contracts to see who holds the work now.
If you want to look for not for profit or private/public company tenders, you are going to have to hustle. They are not bound by any legislation to publicly advertise their opportunities, so the only way to break into them is through good old-fashioned new business development. Research the person to speak to, get an introduction / call them up, make an appointment, find out their needs etc etc.
But let’s be honest. An opportunity comes up, you learn about it, you put a bid in. That’s still no guarantee of success.
Most businesses miss out, and it’s rarely a qualification problem. They:
- Submit cookie-cutter bids,
- Miss critical compliance details,
- Or don’t understand how tenders are really evaluated.
If you’ve lost tenders to “better-prepared” rivals or for reasons unknown, you’re not alone. Many Canberra suppliers are operating reactively by pulling together bids at the last minute, under pressure, with no strategy behind the submission.
What actually works:
- Positioning before the tender is released,
- Strategic go/no-go filtering,
- Clear, direct answers that map to evaluation criteria (not "blah blah aren't we good"),
- And strong local presence that de-risks your offer for buyers.
Most ACT and Commonwealth agencies also publish procurement plans, contract expiry timelines and awarded contracts, which is perfect if you want to plan your BD cycle 12 to 18 months out. Search the awarded contracts on the ACT Contracts Register and AusTender to see who holds the work and when it comes back to market.
Planning to bid this quarter? Or just need to get on more radars?
Let’s talk. Happy to share what’s working for Canberra clients right now, and how to lift your win rate without burning out your team.
