Government procurement for digital contractors in NSW and Victoria is built around mandated schemes, panels, and registers that reduce risk for agencies and speed up sourcing. Contractors win more work when they align capability statements to scheme categories, meet probity and security expectations, and respond quickly to RFQs with clear pricing, deliverables, and governance. The result is faster engagement, fewer compliance issues, and higher renewal rates.
What is a government ICT contractor panel?
A government ICT contractor panel is a pre-approved supplier arrangement that lets agencies engage digital and ICT capability through a controlled process, rather than running a full public tender every time. Panels and schemes typically define scope, contract templates, evaluation rules, and performance expectations. They are designed to reduce procurement effort while protecting public money and integrity.
In NSW, the term “panel” is often implemented through whole-of-government schemes and mandated frameworks that agencies must use for ICT procurement.¹˒² The practical impact is that many ICT engagements start with scheme membership and a short RFQ cycle, not a long tender. Contractors that are not on the relevant scheme can be invisible to buyers, even when they have strong capability.
A useful way to treat any “government ICT contractor panel” is as three things at once: (1) a market access gate, (2) a contracting standard, and (3) a compliance filter. That framing helps digital contractors invest in the right evidence, not just marketing.
Why do NSW and Victoria use panels and registers for digital contractors?
Both states want faster delivery without losing control over probity, value-for-money, and information security. Centralised arrangements also create consistency in contract terms, insurance, and supplier obligations, which reduces legal and operational variability across agencies.
NSW mandates the use of the ICT Purchasing Framework for ICT-related goods and services, supported by Procurement Board Directions.²˒³ That mandate standardises contract templates and risk pathways, including the “Core&” approach for lower risk procurement and the higher assurance pathway for higher risk or higher value engagements.² This is why procurement success in NSW is often a documentation and governance exercise as much as a technical one.
Victoria has consolidated buyer access through online platforms and registers. The Digital Marketplace brings together state purchase contracts and registers so agencies can source from approved suppliers in one place.⁷ The eServices register is positioned as a key route for ICT services, software, and ICT hardware where other contracts do not apply.⁸ This structure pushes suppliers to be “platform ready” and responsive to frequent RFQs.
How does procurement work from requirement to signed contract?
What are the typical steps agencies follow?
Most digital contractor engagements in NSW and Victoria follow a repeatable sequence:
Define outcomes and classify the buy (delivery scope, risk, security needs).²
Select the correct procurement route (scheme, panel, register, or tender).¹˒⁷˒⁸
Approach market via RFQ to selected suppliers and evaluate responses.⁷˒⁸
Confirm probity controls and manage conflicts of interest.⁶˒¹¹
Execute a standard form contract and onboard the contractor (security, access, reporting).²˒¹⁰
Manage performance, timesheets, deliverables, and variation control under contract.⁵˒⁶
For contractors, the competitive advantage is often operational: fast turnaround, compliant evidence, and clear delivery governance. Buyers want less ambiguity because ambiguity creates audit risk and delivery risk.⁵˒¹¹
Where do schemes like SCM0005 fit?
“NSW government scheme SCM0005” is commonly used to refer to the Performance and Management Services Scheme, a prequalification pool for professional services including ICT-related capabilities in defined categories.⁴ This scheme is not a generic “everyone can sell everything” list. It is a structured capability marketplace, and agencies still run an RFQ and evaluation for specific work.
For digital contractors, the practical lesson is that scheme membership is necessary but not sufficient. You still need to package capability to the specific category, price construct, and delivery outcome the agency is buying.
NSW vs VIC: what is different for contractors and agencies?
Which arrangements are effectively “mandatory” in each state?
NSW places strong emphasis on mandated ICT procurement frameworks and scheme usage, supported by formal directions and standard contracting approaches.¹˒²˒³ Agencies are generally expected to use the mandated route unless an exemption or another mandated contract applies.³
Victoria emphasises centralised online sourcing through the Digital Marketplace and registers such as eServices, with clear guidance on how buyers and suppliers participate.⁷˒⁸ The procurement workflow can feel more platform-driven, with frequent RFQ cycles and structured supplier access via Supplier Hub.⁸
What compliance signals matter more in Victoria?
Two Victoria-specific signals often matter for staffing and contractor supply models:
Labour hire licensing obligations can apply when workers are supplied to a host to perform work as part of the host’s operations, and providers have defined compliance obligations.⁹
The Fair Jobs Code applies across applicable Victorian Government tenders and grants, with thresholds that trigger pre-assessment certificate requirements.¹¹
Even when a contractor is engaged as a consultancy-style statement-of-work, agencies can still scrutinise the labour model if it resembles labour hire or creates industrial relations exposure.
How should digital contractors position and bid?
A strong market approach for NSW and Victoria focuses on being easy to buy, not just good at delivery.
Start with capability mapping. Align each service offering to scheme categories and typical RFQ language. In NSW, explicitly show how you work within the ICT Purchasing Framework contract templates and risk settings.² In Victoria, show how you respond through Digital Marketplace workflows and how you handle buyer access controls and RFQ collaboration.⁷˒⁸
Then tighten your offer packaging. Buyers want three things in one page: outcomes, roles, and commercial clarity. Include a delivery plan with governance cadence, risk controls, and measurable acceptance criteria. Connect these to probity expectations by stating conflict-of-interest controls, separation of duties, and records management discipline.⁶˒¹¹
For contractors building a repeatable pipeline, consider productised “evidence packs” to attach to every RFQ: security statement, data handling, insurances, references, and rate cards. That approach reduces response effort and increases consistency, which reduces evaluation friction.
If you need a structured way to translate operational and customer outcomes into executive-ready evidence during bids and delivery, Customer Science Insights can help by turning service and experience signals into decision-grade reporting: https://customerscience.com.au/csg-product/customer-science-insights/
What are the main compliance and delivery risks?
What can derail an otherwise strong bid?
Probity failures are a primary risk because they can invalidate a procurement, trigger investigation, or damage future market access. NSW guidance emphasises that procurement must be fair and be seen to be fair, and probity controls should exist across each step.⁶ A practical control set includes declared conflicts, controlled communications, secure document handling, and auditable evaluation records.⁵˒⁶
Worker classification and engagement model risk is also material. If an engagement is structured incorrectly, it can trigger tax and super obligations, as well as disputes over whether a worker is truly an independent contractor.¹² Where work is primarily personal effort and skills, PSI rules may affect reporting and deductions structures.¹³ These issues matter because they can flow into agency risk assessments and vendor due diligence.
Information security is a third critical risk. Victoria’s VPDSS sets mandatory requirements for protecting public sector information across governance, personnel, ICT, and physical controls.¹⁰ For digital contractors, this means access control, secure environments, logging, and disciplined offboarding are not optional “nice to have” features.
How do you measure procurement and contractor performance?
Measurement should protect delivery outcomes and compliance outcomes at the same time. A balanced scorecard for government digital contracting typically includes:
Time-to-engage (RFQ release to start date) and time-to-fill for specialist roles.
Delivery reliability (milestones achieved, rework rates, defect leakage, and acceptance cycle time).
Commercial control (variation rate, forecast accuracy, and burn-to-value ratio).
Compliance hygiene (conflict declarations, security onboarding completion, access audits, and record completeness).⁵˒⁶˒¹⁰
Stakeholder outcomes (product owner satisfaction, end-user metrics, and operational readiness at handover).
Integrity and security controls should be measurable, not implied. Anti-bribery management systems such as ISO 37001 provide a structured way to prevent, detect, and respond to bribery risks, including in public sector contexts.¹⁴ Even without formal certification, aligning internal controls to recognised standards makes governance clearer for buyers and auditors.
What is a practical 30-day action plan?
Week 1: Map your services to scheme and register categories, then standardise your bid artefacts. Focus on capability statements that match buyer language in NSW and Victoria.¹˒⁴˒⁷˒⁸
Week 2: Build a compliance pack. Include probity controls, conflict-of-interest declarations, data handling approach, and a security onboarding and offboarding checklist aligned to VPDSS expectations.⁶˒¹⁰
Week 3: Build a commercial pack. Clarify rate structures, statement-of-work templates, variation rules, and deliverable acceptance criteria aligned to mandated frameworks.²˒³
Week 4: Operationalise response speed. Create a “24-hour RFQ triage” workflow with named owners, evidence libraries, and an approval path so you can respond fast without taking compliance shortcuts.⁵˒⁶
For organisations that want a managed approach to sourcing, onboarding, and governance for specialist digital talent, Customer Science Contractors provides a practical path to compliant contractor engagement across delivery environments: https://customerscience.com.au/solution/contractors/
Evidentiary Layer
FAQ
How do I find the right “government ICT contractor panel” for my service?
Start by identifying the buyer’s preferred route: in NSW, confirm whether the ICT Purchasing Framework and related schemes apply.¹˒² In Victoria, confirm whether the engagement is routed through Digital Marketplace and which register or contract covers the scope.⁷˒⁸
What does “NSW government scheme SCM0005” usually mean for digital contractors?
It usually refers to the Performance and Management Services Scheme, which is a prequalification pool for professional services with defined capability categories, including ICT-related services in scope.⁴ Scheme membership supports access, but each opportunity still requires an RFQ response and evaluation.
Do I need labour hire licensing in Victoria to supply ICT contractors?
It depends on the engagement model. When workers are supplied to a host to perform work as part of the host’s operations, labour hire licensing obligations may apply and providers have defined compliance duties.⁹ You should verify your model against the Act and guidance before bidding.⁹
How do agencies assess probity risk in contractor procurements?
They look for evidence of fairness, conflict management, controlled communication, and auditable records.⁶ Strong internal governance reduces buyer risk and reduces the chance of procurement challenge or audit findings.⁵˒⁶˒¹¹
What security expectations should digital contractors plan for in Victoria?
VPDSS sets mandatory requirements across governance, information, personnel, ICT, and physical security.¹⁰ Contractors should be prepared for structured onboarding, access controls, logging, and disciplined offboarding aligned to agency policies.¹⁰
How can I improve executive visibility of contractor performance during delivery?
Use a consistent operational reporting method that links effort to outcomes, risk, and stakeholder impact. Commscore AI can help teams summarise and track customer and operational signals to support governance decisions during delivery: https://customerscience.com.au/csg-product/commscore-ai/
Sources
NSW Government, “ICT Services Scheme”, info.buy.nsw.gov.au.
Hyperlink: https://www.info.buy.nsw.gov.au/schemes/ict-services-schemeNSW Government, “ICT Purchasing Framework”, info.buy.nsw.gov.au.
Hyperlink: https://www.info.buy.nsw.gov.au/resources/ICT-Purchasing-FrameworkNSW Procurement Board, “PBD-2025-03 Mandated use of ICT Purchasing Framework”, arp.nsw.gov.au.
Hyperlink: https://arp.nsw.gov.au/pbd-2025-03-mandated-use-of-ict-purchasing-frameworkNSW Government, “Performance and Management Services Scheme (SCM0005)”, buy.nsw.gov.au.
Hyperlink: https://buy.nsw.gov.au/schemes/performance-and-management-services-schemeNSW Government, “NSW Government Procurement Policy Framework” (PDF), info.buy.nsw.gov.au, December 2024.
Hyperlink: https://www.info.buy.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/1294541/Procurement-Policy-Framework_December-2024.pdfNSW Government, “Probity and fairness” guidance, buy.nsw.gov.au.
Hyperlink: https://buy.nsw.gov.au/buyer-guidance/source/select-suppliers/probity-and-fairnessVictorian Government, “Access Digital Marketplace”, buyingfor.vic.gov.au.
Hyperlink: https://www.buyingfor.vic.gov.au/access-digital-marketplaceVictorian Government, “eServices register” and “eServices for suppliers”, buyingfor.vic.gov.au.
Hyperlink: https://www.buyingfor.vic.gov.au/eservices-registerVictorian Government, “Fair Jobs Code”, djsir.vic.gov.au, including guidance on thresholds and application.
Hyperlink: https://djsir.vic.gov.au/about-us/overview/tenders-quotes-contracts/fair-jobs-codeVictorian Government, “Labour Hire Licensing Act 2018” and Labour Hire Authority provider obligations, legislation.vic.gov.au and labourhireauthority.vic.gov.au.
Hyperlink: https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/in-force/acts/labour-hire-licensing-act-2018Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner, “Victorian Protective Data Security Standards (VPDSS)”, ovic.vic.gov.au.
Hyperlink: https://ovic.vic.gov.au/information-security/standards/Australian Taxation Office, “Employee or independent contractor”, ato.gov.au.
Hyperlink: https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/hiring-and-paying-your-workers/employee-or-independent-contractorAustralian Taxation Office, “Personal services income (PSI)”, ato.gov.au.
Hyperlink: https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/income-deductions-and-concessions/personal-services-incomeInternational Organization for Standardization, “ISO 37001:2025 Anti-bribery management systems”, iso.org.
Hyperlink: https://www.iso.org/standard/37001