--- title: "Procurement and tenders: buying practice-based training" description: "Commonwealth Procurement Rules thresholds, AusTender and state portals, US FAR thresholds and an RFQ checklist for practice-based training in a public body." canonical: https://peopletechrevolution.com/training/procurement-and-tenders --- [Training programs](https://peopletechrevolution.com/training) / Procurement and tenders # For procurement and finance teams: buying practice-based training in a public body Thresholds, portals and what an RFQ should ask for. Your questions ## Can we buy this without a tender? The answer turns on expected value and the kind of entity. A council officer answers across the counter. A regional office desk, headset on. A permits team stands with a tablet. A director waits across the meeting table. ### Commonwealth: the threshold sets the method The [Commonwealth Procurement Rules](https://www.finance.gov.au/government/procurement/commonwealth-procurement-rules) of 17 November 2025: "for non-corporate Commonwealth entities, other than for procurements of construction services, the procurement threshold is $125,000". The value counted is "the maximum value of the proposed contract, including options, extensions, renewals or other mechanisms"; at or above the threshold, unless an Appendix A exemption applies, the [Division 2 rules](https://www.finance.gov.au/government/procurement/commonwealth-procurement-rules/procurement-method) must also be followed. That [maximum value](https://www.finance.gov.au/government/procurement/commonwealth-procurement-rules/procurement-method) includes "all forms of remuneration" and "any taxes or charges"; a procurement run in multiple parts counts "the maximum value of all of the contracts"; and when the maximum value "cannot be estimated", the procurement "must be treated as being valued above the relevant procurement threshold". A policy officer speaks at a lectern. ### Splitting and standing offers The same [rules](https://www.finance.gov.au/government/procurement/commonwealth-procurement-rules/procurement-method): "A procurement must not be divided into separate parts solely for the purpose of avoiding a relevant procurement threshold." Buying from an existing standing offer sits outside Division 2 but "must comply with the rules in Division 1"; establishing a new panel is its own procurement. A permits officer listens across the counter. ### New South Wales: registration before the contract Registration on [buy.nsw](https://suppliers.buy.nsw.gov.au/help/getting-started) has been mandatory for suppliers to NSW Government since 1 July 2024. [Direction PBD-2023-04](https://arp.nsw.gov.au/pbd-2023-04-mandated-registration-of-all-nsw-government-suppliers-on-the-buy-nsw-supplier-hub) applies above the $150,000 GIPA threshold, exempts "ad-hoc or non-contractual" supply, and tells buyers to "Confirm supplier registration prior to procurement contract execution." A choice panel beside a service counter. ### Which portal? - [AusTender](https://www.tenders.gov.au/): Commonwealth opportunities and contracts awarded. - [buy.nsw Supplier Hub](https://suppliers.buy.nsw.gov.au/help/getting-started): New South Wales. - [Queensland Government supplier portal](https://www.supply.qld.gov.au/): VendorPanel Marketplace and QTenders. - [Buying for Victoria](https://www.buyingfor.vic.gov.au/). - [Tenders WA](https://www.tenders.wa.gov.au/): Western Australia. - [GETS](https://www.gets.govt.nz/): New Zealand. - [Test and Buy Innovation](https://www.digital.nsw.gov.au/delivery/test-and-buy-innovation): Digital NSW’s staged pathway. In the United States ## Federal thresholds, and what public buyers asked for The [Federal Acquisition Regulation](https://www.acquisition.gov/far/2.101) sets thresholds; solicitations show the questions. An incident controller beside a choice panel. ### Micro-purchase and simplified acquisition FAR Part 2 [definitions](https://www.acquisition.gov/far/2.101): "Micro-purchase threshold means $15,000" and "Simplified acquisition threshold means $350,000", each with listed exceptions. A caseworker faces a distressed client. ### A county RFP for de-escalation training [Williamson County, Texas](https://media.governmentnavigator.com/media/bid/1744220355_4_9_2025-25RFP43.pdf) (2025): "The platform needs to offer realistic scenarios across de-escalation, conflict resolution, active shooter response, and more." Proposals were scored on completeness, product knowledge, responsiveness and price. A leader stands beside a boardroom table. ### A federal grant that asks for evidence The Bureau of Justice Assistance [VR de-escalation solicitation](https://bja.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh186/files/media/document/O-BJA-2023-171767.pdf) (2023): "Include a description of the accompanying evidence-based curriculum to be used and the role of the identified academic partner." Your RFQ ## What to ask for when you go to market Paste these into your request for quote. A planner and supervisor review a tablet. ### Scenarios, formats and evidence - Scenarios: written from your own incidents and roles; see [scenario and debrief design](https://peopletechrevolution.com/insights/design-de-escalation-scenario-debrief). - Delivery formats: headset, browser roleplay, facilitated session, partner trainer, each quoted separately; see [how we deliver](https://peopletechrevolution.com/training/how-we-deliver). - Evidence: published results and who measured them. - Debrief: who runs it and what it contains. A counsellor and client across a desk. ### Data, headsets, evaluation and support - Data handling: where recordings and scores live, who sees them, whether a vendor trains on them; compare [how PTR handles data](https://peopletechrevolution.com/about/governance). - Headsets: who supplies, manages and cleans them, and what runs without one. - Evaluation: the measure named up front; see [business case and evaluation](https://peopletechrevolution.com/training/business-case-and-evaluation) and [how a pilot runs](https://peopletechrevolution.com/training/how-a-pilot-runs). - Support: preparation for your facilitators and a named contact. Where practice fits ## Programs public bodies buy practice for Frontline counters, casework and planning conversations. A planning conversation at a small table. A regional officer faces an expert twin. Reviewers try a browser build together. Programs & sector pages - [De-escalation](https://peopletechrevolution.com/training/de-escalation) - [Difficult conversations](https://peopletechrevolution.com/training/difficult-conversations) - [Inclusive service](https://peopletechrevolution.com/training/disability-awareness-and-inclusive-service) - [Induction & onboarding](https://peopletechrevolution.com/training/induction-and-onboarding) - [Government & public sector](https://peopletechrevolution.com/work/industries/government-public-sector) - [Local government](https://peopletechrevolution.com/work/industries/local-government) - [Government case studies](https://peopletechrevolution.com/work/case-studies/government-public-sector) - [Council de-escalation standards](https://peopletechrevolution.com/learn/standards/council-staff-de-escalation-training) - [Choosing a provider](https://peopletechrevolution.com/learn/choosing-a-roleplay-training-provider) - [How we deliver](https://peopletechrevolution.com/training/how-we-deliver) - [For trainers](https://peopletechrevolution.com/training/for-trainers) Published work ## What our published work includes Labelled by who measured it. An office desk scene from the Google scenarios. ### Peer reviewed: Google, ACM CHI 2024 A [peer-reviewed paper](https://peopletechrevolution.com/uploads/docs/people-tech-revolution-google-vr-inclusion-training-chi-2024.pdf) evaluated VR inclusion training led by PTR co-founder Leonie Sanderson and built with Equal Reality, a subsidiary of People Tech Revolution. The 7 trainees who returned the optional survey gave 82% average agreement that it was better than Google’s standard DEI training. Inside the Mater build, at a bedside. ### Client evaluation: Mater Education In Mater’s own [program evaluation](https://peopletechrevolution.com/uploads/docs/people-tech-revolution-mater-immersive-learning-pilot-case-study.pdf), over 96% of participants wanted more training in VR. The published set carries no cost study and no incident-rate result. [Download the Google research paper PDF](https://peopletechrevolution.com/uploads/docs/people-tech-revolution-google-vr-inclusion-training-chi-2024.pdf) [Download the Mater case study PDF](https://peopletechrevolution.com/uploads/docs/people-tech-revolution-mater-immersive-learning-pilot-case-study.pdf) A consultation across a table, tablet between. ### Send the RFQ, or the question before it Tell us the value band, jurisdiction and roles, and we will answer in the shape your paper needs. [Talk to us](https://peopletechrevolution.com/talk-to-us) or [book a time with our team](https://calendly.com/simon-ptrvr/30min?utm_content=trnprocurement). Preparing an RFQ for practice-based training? [Open the contact form](https://peopletechrevolution.com/training/procurement-and-tenders#contact) Ask our CEO Simon Lowe’s Digital Twin a question ## Sources Each rule at its source. ### [Commonwealth Procurement Rules: procurement method](https://www.finance.gov.au/government/procurement/commonwealth-procurement-rules/procurement-method) Department of Finance, 17 November 2025 Thresholds and methods. ### [PBD-2023-04: registration on the buy NSW Supplier Hub](https://arp.nsw.gov.au/pbd-2023-04-mandated-registration-of-all-nsw-government-suppliers-on-the-buy-nsw-supplier-hub) NSW Procurement Board, 2023 Registration and the buyer check. ### [Federal Acquisition Regulation, Part 2 definitions](https://www.acquisition.gov/far/2.101) acquisition.gov The thresholds. ### [RFP for VR de-escalation training](https://media.governmentnavigator.com/media/bid/1744220355_4_9_2025-25RFP43.pdf) Williamson County, Texas, 2025 Scope and criteria. ### [VR de-escalation training solicitation](https://bja.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh186/files/media/document/O-BJA-2023-171767.pdf) Bureau of Justice Assistance, 2023 Curriculum and partner.