McR turns 100
McR turns 100

The Queensland Government Procurement Policy 2026 is here

Overview of QPP 2026

On 1 January 2026, the Queensland Procurement Policy 2026 (QPP 2026) commenced.  One of the key objectives of QPP 2026 is to simplify the procurement process and reduce the administrative burden and red tape involved in transacting with the Queensland government.

Application of QPP 2026

QPP 2026 applies to ‘agencies,’ which include any of the following:  

  • a department or statutory body as defined in the Financial Accountability Act 2009 (Qld);
  • an entity declared by regulation to be a government-owed corporation under the Government Owned Corporation Act 1993 (Qld); or
  • a public sector company1.

Queensland Procurement Approach

QPP 2026 outlines the Queensland Procurement Approach (Approach).  The Approach is centred around five foundational pillars:

  1. Value for Queensland: To deliver value for taxpayers’ money and ensure fair and open competition.  To support this pillar, a whole-of-government value assessment benefits framework will be published alongside the launch of a public-facing Queensland Government Procurement Spend Portal.
  2. Local opportunities: To create opportunities for local suppliers, with an emphasis on small and family business and regional enterprises where practical.  The government will seek to increase the total number of Queensland suppliers and achieve the small and medium business (SME) procurement target (which is to source 30% of procurement by value from Queensland SMEs2).
  3. Easy to do business: To simplify procurement processes and make it easier for suppliers to do business with government.  The government will take action to streamline whole-of-government procurement processes through a holistic review and require agencies to undertake a review of their tender and bid processes.  Notably, the government will publish streamlined invitation and contract documentation for each procurement category by 31 December 2026.   
  4. Open to new ideas: To encourage innovation and new market-driven approaches to solve challenges faced by government.  Here, the government intends to pursue innovative supply solutions and support the development and adoption of new technologies.
  5. Practical economic, environmental and social impact: To enhance sustainable procurement practices and build a diverse supplier base, including support for social enterprises and Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander businesses.  Key actions to be undertaken under this pillar are to embed sustainability principles (including waste reduction and recycling principles) in procurement practices, incentivise suppliers to adopt sustainable practices, and the implementation of the Procurement Assurance Model (PAM) to provide a mechanism to assess supplier’s compliance with the new Queensland Government Supplier Code of Conduct 2026 (Supplier Code) and other social impact commitments.

Queensland Procurement Rules and PAM

Agencies will apply the Queensland Procurement Rules (QP Rules) and PAM to deliver the Approach. 

The PAM is set out in Part 3 of QPP 2026 and is a model for establishing standards to certify the ethics and integrity of suppliers.  The PAM incorporates three ‘assurance systems’ – being, an incentive scheme (commencing on 1 January 2027), capability building and accountability.

Notably, the QP Rules contained within QPP 2026 replace the 2023 Queensland Procurement Policy.  The QP Rules set out:

  • ‘must’ rules – which are mandatory for agencies;
  • ‘should’ rules – which agencies are encouraged to comply with and reflect best practice; and
  • ‘may’ rules – which are optional for agencies.

Various QP Rules apply to different stages of the procurement lifecycle, including planning, sourcing and evaluation, contract award as well as contract management.

How do agencies comply with QPP 2026?   

Going forward, agencies will need to consider and ensure compliance with QPP 2026 from the outset of the planning stage to contract award and beyond.  To provide some flavour regarding the requirements for agencies under QPP 2026, we set out some of the key requirements below. 

Notably, while streamlined invitation and contract documentation are set to be released for each procurement category at the end of 2026, agencies will need to ensure invitation and contract documentation comply with the requirements of QPP 2026 now.

Importantly, to ensure compliance with QPP 2026, agencies must:

  • ensure the planning for any procurement is commensurate with the value, risk and complexity for the procurement;3
  • use a common-use supply arrangement4 if a procurement need can be met using such (unless a specified exemption applies and is approved by the relevant agency delegate);5
  • store data relevant to the procurement strategy securely and consider cyber security risks and the management of personal information as part of the procurement process;6
  • for routine procurement only, invite at least one local supplier or small and family business or a Queensland regional business to respond;7
  • in respect of invitation documentation:
    • use template documentation relevant to the category being procured.8 Agencies should also consider and incorporate relevant government procurement objectives, targets and commitments in the invitation documentation;9
    • ensure the documentation requires suppliers to warrant compliance with the Supplier Code;10
  • in respect of contract documentation:
    • include appropriate clauses in contracts to manage information and cyber security risks;12
    • ensure contract documentation (i) requires suppliers to adhere to the Supplier Code during the contract term, and (ii) provides that a breach by the supplier of the Supplier Code is a breach of the contract;13
  • use template contract documentation relevant to the category being procure;11
  • document decision-making in respect of any evaluation14 and, where a supplier has been invited to submit an offer, offer feedback to all suppliers who have responded;15
  • maintain and dispose of government-owned goods and/or services in an accountable, environmentally friendly and cost-effective way;16
  • provide details of potential future procurement activities as specified in agency procurement plans;17 and
  • ensure that agency policies or procedures specify how contracts will be managed18 and prepare a contract management plan for all significant procurement contracts19.

In terms of the Supplier Code, guidance indicates that where common-use supply arrangements or contracts do not include provision for the Supplier Code, agencies should apply the Supplier Code on ‘refresh’ of the arrangement or when exercising a variation or renewal to the arrangement or contract.20

Finally, suppliers (particularly SMEs) looking to contract with government should understand how to navigate QPP 2026 with the view to maximising the opportunity provided by the new procurement target.

For assistance with navigating QPP 2026, or if you would like more information on government procurement in Queensland please contact Belinda Breakspear, Partner Digital & IP, at bbreakspear@mccullough.com.au, Jane Davies (Special Counsel) at jdavies@mccullough.com.au, Chanel Gray (Senior Associate) at cgray@mccullough.com.au, or a member of our Government team.

[1] ‘Public sector company’ is defined in QPP 2026 to have the meaning provided in the Queensland Treasury Company Financial Reporting in the Queensland Public Sector policy.

[2] ‘Small and medium enterprise’ is defined in QPP 2026 to mean a business employing less than 200 people.

[3] See QP Rule 1.

[4] Common-use supply arrangement is defined in QPP 6 as an arrangement intended for whole-of-Queensland Government use established between the principle and the successful offeror (including without limitation a standing offer arrangement, a register of pre-qualified suppliers, panel arrangement or preferred supplier arrangement).

[5] See QP Rule 2.

[6] See QP Rule 3.

[7] See QP Rule 19

[8] See QP Rule 15.

[9] See QP Rule 16.

[10] See QP Rule 9.

[11] See QP Rule 23.

[12] See QP Rule 26.

[13] See QP Rule 9.

[14] See QP Rule 22.

[15] See QP Rule 27.

[16] See QP Rule 4.

[17] See QP Rule 7.

[18] See QP Rule 30.

[19] See QP Rule 31.

[20] See Queensland Government Supplier Code of Conduct | For government | Queensland Government