Most suppliers hear about a federal re-tender when the approach to market appears on AusTender. By then the clock is short. For open tenders at or above the procurement threshold, the Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPRs) set a minimum of 25 days to lodge a submission, and in some circumstances as few as 10 (paragraphs 10.22 and 10.24). For non-corporate Commonwealth entities that threshold is $125,000 including GST, and has been since 17 November 2025 (paragraph 9.7 (opens in a new tab)). Agencies often allow longer, but it is rarely enough time to find a partner, gain a certification, or build evidence you do not yet have. Starting 6 to 12 months before the current contract ends gives you room to do that work properly.
First, understand what happens when a contract ends. An agency does not have to go back to market. Department of Finance guidance (opens in a new tab) lists the things officials weigh when deciding whether to extend: whether extending still gives value for money, whether a new approach to market would get a better result, how the current supplier is performing, whether there is time to run a new process, market conditions, and how the agency's needs have changed. The same guidance notes that extension options in Commonwealth standard contracts are usually at the Commonwealth's discretion. Treat every expiring contract as a possibility, not a promise.
12 months out: read the public record
Find the contract notice on AusTender and note the agency, supplier, value, start and end dates, category, and procurement method. Agencies must report contracts at or above the reporting threshold within 42 days, and report significant amendments too (CPRs paragraphs 7.18 and 7.19). Amendments matter: a later end date or a higher value can mean options are already being used. The value shown is the total maximum value over the contract's life, not yearly spend.
Then check the agency's annual procurement plan. Under paragraphs 7.8 and 7.9 of the CPRs, each relevant entity must keep a current plan on AusTender, and it should list significant planned procurements with an estimated date for the approach to market (the plan list (opens in a new tab)). Plans can be revised or withdrawn, so use them as a signal, not a timetable.
9 to 12 months out: work out how the agency buys
Was the work bought through an open tender, a limited tender, or a panel? If it came from a panel, the agency usually approaches suppliers already on that panel, so the real opportunity may be the next panel refresh, which is usually run as an open approach to market on AusTender (Selling to Government (opens in a new tab)). If earlier approach-to-market documents are still available, read them for the scope, the conditions for participation, and the evaluation criteria. They show what the agency valued last time.
6 to 9 months out: close the gaps
Compare your business with those likely requirements. Common gaps include insurance levels, security requirements, relevant standards or certifications, and evidence of similar work. If a standard applies to a procurement at or above the threshold, tender responses must show the capability to meet it (paragraph 7.27). If you need a partner, agree roles early, and remember that agencies can publicly disclose the names of subcontractors (paragraph 7.21). It also helps to read the Commonwealth Supplier Code of Conduct (opens in a new tab), which sets out the standards of behaviour the Commonwealth expects of its suppliers.
6 months out: engage the right way, then decide
Attend industry briefings and respond to any request for information if the agency runs one. Once an approach to market is open, follow its rules on communication, which usually route all questions through a nominated contact officer, and never seek confidential information about other bidders. If you bid with this agency before and missed out, ask for a debrief: the CPRs say debriefings must be made available on request to unsuccessful tenderers (paragraph 7.17), and the Selling to Government site (opens in a new tab) explains what they usually cover. Then make an honest bid or no-bid call. How strong is the incumbent? Has the agency tended to keep or change suppliers for this kind of work? Can you show clear value for money?
When the approach to market opens
Read every document, check the minimum content and format requirements, put the key dates in your calendar, ask questions early, and plan to lodge well before the closing time. The Selling to Government checklist (opens in a new tab) for building a response is a useful final check.
Contract Horizon can help with the first step. It lists federal contracts ending in the next 3 to 12 months, drawn from AusTender contract notices, with the current holder, value, and end date, and on Pro and Team plans a re-tender score showing how often that agency has given similar work to a different supplier. The steps above work however you find the contract. The earlier you start, the more of them you can do well.