Government Procurement Arrangements for Telecommunications
Australian Government Telecommunications Arrangement (AGTA)
AGTA provides an over-arching legal framework under which Australian Government agencies operating under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 must purchase telecommunications carriage services. The legal framework consists of Head Agreements with telecommunications carriers and telecommunications carriage services providers and product providers. Agencies enter into contracts under these Head Agreements for the provision of telecommunications carriage.
AGTA simplifies and reduces the cost of negotiations between Australian Government agencies and telecommunications providers.
Internet Based Network Connection Services Panel
On 12 July 2011, the Department of Finance and Deregulation announced the establishment of the Internet Based Network Connection Services Panel (IBNCS). Suppliers to the Panel were appointed through an open approach to market.
Consistent with the Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines (CPG) and the Coordinated Procurement Contracting Framework, all Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 (Cth) (FMA) agencies must use the Panel where they have a requirement to procure the scope of services that are covered by the Panel.
The Panel is also available for use by:
- Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 (Cth) (CAC) bodies;
- State and Territory government bodies;
- Any other body established by the Governor-General or State Governor or by a Minister of State of the Commonwealth or a State or Territory including departments in state or territory governments; and
- Any incorporated company over which the Commonwealth, a state or territory exercises control.
For information on the IBNCS Panel please read:
- Internet Based Network Connection Services Panel (IBNCS) Fact Sheet PDF Version [
830 KB] - Internet Based Network Connection Services Panel (IBNCS) Fact Sheet RTF Version [
2.2 MB]
Telecommunications Management Panel
On 14 June 2011, the Department of Finance and Deregulation announced the establishment of the Telecommunications Management Panel (TMAN). The twenty-six suppliers to the Panel were appointed through an open approach to market.
The panel is the mandatory procurement avenue for agencies subject to the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 (Cth), and is accessible by:
- bodies subject to the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 (Cth);
- any other body governed by the Governor-General or State Governor or by a Minister of State of the Commonwealth or a State or Territory including departments in State or Territory Governments; and
- any incorporated company over which the Commonwealth or a State or Territory exercises control.
For information on the TMAN Panel please read:
- Telecommunications Management Panel Factsheet PDF Version [ 1.0 MB]
- Telecommunications Management Panel Factsheet RTF Version [ 103 KB]
Telecommunications Commodities, Carriage and Associated Services Panel
In January 2011, the Department of Finance and Deregulation established a Telecommunications Commodities, Carriage and Associated Services Panel. The four suppliers to the panel were appointed through an open approach to the market.
The panel is the mandatory procurement avenue for agencies subject to the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 (Cth), and is accessible by:
- bodies subject to the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 (Cth);
- any other body governed by the Governor-General or State Governor or by a Minister of State of the Commonwealth or a State or Territory including departments in State or Territory Governments; and
- any incorporated company over which the Commonwealth or a State or Territory exercises control.
For further information on the Telecommunications Commodities, Carriage and Associated Services Panel please see:
- Fact sheet - PDF [ 1 MB]
- Fact sheet - RTF [ 2 MB]
Telecommunications Invoice Reconciliation Services Panel
In September 2010, the Department of Finance and Deregulation established a telecommunications invoice reconciliation panel. The four suppliers to the panel were appointed through an open approach to the market.
The panel is accessible by:
- agencies subject to the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 (Cth);
- bodies subject to the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 (Cth);
- any other body governed by the Governor-General or State Governor or by a Minister of State of the Commonwealth or a State or Territory including departments in State or Territory Governments; and
- any incorporated company over which the Commonwealth or a State or Territory exercises control.
For further information on the telecommunications invoice reconciliation panel please see:
- Fact sheet - PDF [ 999 KB]
- Fact sheet - RTF [ 2.2 MB]
Contact for information on this page: ICT Procurement