How to Use the AusTender Portal (tenders.gov.au)
A practical walkthrough of Department of Finance's AusTender portal: creating an account, searching and filtering tenders, downloading documents, and submitting electronically or by hand.
tenders.gov.au is Department of Finance's official portal where government advertises tenders. It is free and authoritative, and every Australian supplier should know how to use it — even if you also use a tool that aggregates it.
Create a free account
You can browse opportunities without logging in, but a free account lets you follow tenders and, where supported, submit electronically. Register with your business and contact details.
Search and filter
Use the search to filter by category, province, organ of state and closing date. Read the tender notice for the essentials: what is being procured, the closing date and time, whether there is a compulsory briefing, and which documents you must return.
Download the tender documents
Tender documents are free to download. Open the full pack and read the special conditions and the returnables list first — that is where the disqualifiers hide. Many notices link the documents directly; some larger packs are split across several files.
Submit your bid
- Some tenders accept electronic submission (e-Submission) through the portal
- Others require physical delivery to a tender box by the closing time
- Either way, late is disqualified — submit with a buffer, never at the deadline
- Keep proof of submission (the e-Submission receipt or a stamped delivery copy)
Frequently asked questions
Is the AusTender portal free to use?+
Yes. Browsing and downloading tender documents on tenders.gov.au is free; a free account lets you follow tenders and submit electronically where supported.
How do I submit a bid on AusTender?+
Some tenders support electronic submission (e-Submission) through the portal; others require physical delivery to a tender box before the closing time. Late submissions are disqualified, and you should keep proof of submission.
Do I need AusTender if I use TenderWin?+
TenderWin reads the same official AusTender OCDS feed and adds matching, eligibility and payment-risk. Many bidders search free on TenderWin and verify or submit on the official portal.
Search every live Australian government tender free. No signup, no card.
Search live tenders