People Panel Phase 3: Professional Contractor Services

Professional Contractor Services

The Professional Contractor Services panel (the Panel) will launch on 1 July 2026. 

Professional Contractor definition

A Professional Contractor:

1. is a natural person who is an expert with extensive knowledge and experience in the Service Area and Service Category to which the Ordered Services relate and is:
   1. the Service Provider (if the Service Provider is a sole trader); or
   2. the employee of a Service Provider (or a natural person otherwise engaged directly or indirectly by a Service Provider);
2. is not an employee of the Entity; and
3. will work under the supervision of the Entity and at the premises of the Entity or another location, as described and required under the terms of the Head Agreement and any Contract made under the terms of the Head Agreement.

Scope of Services

The  Panel will consist of 4 Service Areas and 18 Service Categories encompassing the following:

Diagram description - scope of services

Out of Scope Services

• Technical ICT Categories (Digital Marketplace)
• Resources and construction including:
  • industrial, agricultural, infrastructure, mining, forestry, fisheries, maritime, meatworkers, manufacturing, textiles, building
• Military engineering
• Learning and Development
• Statutory appointments
• Non-statutory appointments
• Other WoAG coordinated procurement arrangements
• Consultants as defined in RMG 423 
• Labour Hire Services.

Existing panels

The Panel will incorporate, in full or in part, service categories from the following existing panels at a minimum:

1. relevant Professional Contractor Services categories related to:
   1. SON3485107 – Department of Defence, Defence Support Services Panel;
   2. SON3538332 – Australian Federal Police, Capability Support Services Panel;
   3. SON3390679 – Department of Health and Aged Care, Health Data Analytics Panel;
   4. SON3389328 – Department of Defence, Negotiation Services Standing Offer Panel; and
2. other Professional Contractor Service-related categories on current broader services panels.

Transition advice

Non-corporate Commonwealth Entities must use the Panel for in-scope services for:

• all new contracts executed after the panel launch date
• existing contracts, which must be considered for transition as part of a value for money assessment before exercising any extension options. 

Before the launch date, NCEs should avoid entering into contracts longer than 12 months for services that will be in scope of Phase 3.

Contracts for in‑scope services that were established under another arrangement should be transitioned to the Phase 3 Head Agreement within six months of launch.

Further information on transition to the Panel is available in the Transition Guide.