Whole of Government (WoG)

What is Whole of Government (WoG) Procurement?

Whole of Government (WoG) procurement is an approach where a central procurement authority establishes contracts, Panel Arrangements, or Standing Offer Arrangements that can be used by multiple government departments and agencies. Rather than each agency independently procuring common goods and services, WoG arrangements consolidate demand to achieve better pricing, consistent terms, and reduced administrative burden.

How Does WoG Procurement Work in Australia?

WoG arrangements are managed by central procurement bodies at each level of government:

• Commonwealth — the Department of Finance oversees whole-of-government arrangements accessible via AusTender, covering categories like travel, telecommunications, and professional services
• New South Wales — NSW Procurement manages state-wide contracts through the NSW Government eProcurement system
• Victoria — the State Purchase Contracts are managed centrally and available through Buying for Victoria
• Queensland — Queensland Government Chief Procurement Office manages standing offer arrangements accessible via QTenders

What Categories are Typically WoG?

Common categories for WoG arrangements include:

• ICT hardware and software — laptops, servers, software licences
• Telecommunications — mobile services, internet, fixed line
• Travel services — flights, accommodation, travel management
• Professional services — consulting, legal, audit, recruitment
• Office supplies and furniture
• Fleet management — vehicle leasing and maintenance

Benefits for Suppliers

Winning a place on a WoG arrangement is highly valuable because:

• Large addressable market — all participating agencies can order from you
• Reduced tendering costs — one tender process gives access to many buyers
• Volume potential — aggregated demand across government can be substantial

Tips for Tenderers

• Monitor WoG tender opportunities — they are typically large, competitive procurements with significant long-term value.
• Price for volume — WoG pricing should reflect the aggregated demand potential.
• Invest in your response — the stakes are higher given the breadth of the opportunity.
• Plan for scalability — agencies will expect you to service demand from multiple departments across different locations.