Plan and run a limited tender for interpreting services

You are a Procurement Officer in the Procurement and Contract Management Branch.

Simulated workplaceAdvanced missionCAQA Department of Community Programs

What is going on

The department's interpreting and translation contract expires at the end of October 2026 and the replacement procurement PRC-26-0118 is still at planning. The estimated value is $420,000 over three years, which sits in the limited tender band and can be sourced from the whole of government language services panel. Front counters and consultations depend on the service, so a gap is not acceptable. A separate procurement has just been reported to the risk register because tender offers were stored where staff outside the panel could see them, and the probity adviser is paying close attention. Nikhil Bhattacharya wants the process planned, approved and in the market so the contract can be awarded by 23 October.

Nikhil Bhattacharya, Manager, Procurement and Contracts
Subject: Interpreting services procurement PRC-26-0118

The interpreting and translation contract expires at the end of October and PRC-26-0118 is still at planning. I need you to prepare the procurement request form, the procurement plan and the request for quote for a limited tender from the language services panel. Estimated value is $420,000 over three years, so check the delegations register for the right delegate and make sure the evaluation panel members sign conflict declarations before any offer arrives. Register each step in the contracts register. We must award by 23 October.

Your brief

Prepare the procurement request and approval form, a procurement plan with evaluation criteria and probity arrangements, and a request for quote for a limited tender from the panel, obtain the correct delegate's approval, secure conflict declarations from the panel and register every step in the contracts register.

Work through it

You do not need to do it all. Doing a few of these will show you what the work is like. Your ticks and notes stay on this device.

Read the Procurement Policy and confirm the market approach and approval level for a $420,000 three year contract, then check the Financial and Administrative Delegations Register to identify the delegate.
Complete the Procurement Request and Approval Form describing the need, value, budget, risk rating and proposed panel, and attach the requesting officer's conflict declaration.
Write a procurement plan covering timeline to award by 23 October, evaluation criteria and weightings, panel membership, probity arrangements and secure storage of offers.
Obtain Conflict of Interest Declarations from every evaluation panel member before the request for quote is issued and record them on the procurement file.
Draft the request for quote for the panel suppliers with the statement of requirements, evaluation criteria, the contact officer rule and the closing date.
Update PRC-26-0118 in the Contracts and Procurement Register from Planning to Approach to market with the delegate, contract manager and closing date.
Review the risk register entry RR-26-026 and write a short note on how your plan prevents the same failure in this procurement.
Save all documents to the procurement file with the correct security classification.

My notes: what did I enjoy, and what surprised me?

What someone in this role would produce

Completed Procurement Request and Approval Form
Procurement plan with evaluation criteria and probity arrangements
Request for quote ready for issue
Panel conflict of interest declarations
Updated register entry PRC-26-0118

Printing this is a record of what you explored. It is not a certificate or a qualification.