Who can apply for pre-qualification onto the Construction Supplier Register as a supplier of construction works?
Suppliers of construction works with demonstrated expertise and financial capacity to tender for projects with contract values over $750,000 (inclusive of GST) may apply for pre-qualification onto the Construction Supplier Register in any of the construction works pre-qualification categories at any time.
Suppliers interested in other pre-qualification pathways are encouraged to follow the information set out on the applying for pre-qualification on the Construction Supplier Register page.
Suppliers agree to be bound by and comply with the Construction Supplier Register’s mandatory pre-qualification requirements as part of the Construction Supplier Register’s application process.
What is the definition of construction works?
Construction works encompasses work for or in connection with the construction, demolition or removal of all types of buildings. Buildings include all classes of buildings under the National Construction Code, structures, temporary buildings, temporary structures and any part of a building or structure.
The Construction Supplier Register’s construction works pre-qualification categories are summarised on the pre-qualification categories page and are also listed below for ease of review. Construction works pre-qualification categories are specific to the building industry:
- Commercial Refurbishment
- Demolition
- Fire Services Contractor
- Movable Unit Contractor
- New Commercial Construction
- New Residential Construction
- Office Fit Out
- Office Fit Out (non-structural)
- Residential Refurbishment
- Concrete corrosion contractor
- Lift contractor
What are the eligibility criteria that must be met by suppliers of construction works pre-qualified on the Construction Supplier Register?
The Construction Supplier Register’s eligibility criteria listed below must be meet by all construction works suppliers (tendering for projects with a value greater than $750,000 (inclusive of GST)) across all construction works pre-qualification categories. These criteria are used to assess supplier applications and maintain ongoing pre-qualification to the Construction Supplier Register.
1. Entity legal status
Suppliers must be:
- an individual or sole trader
- a company registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, or
- a partnership.
Suppliers must have an Australian Business Number (ABN) and / or Australian Company Number (ACN).
Required evidence
Evidence of the supplier’s business structure, including identification of executive(s) / key office bearers / senior management.
Evidence the supplier has an Australian Business Number (ABN) and / or Australian Company Number (ACN), or an extract from a relevant register.
Copy of registration of company or business operation with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission or relevant register. Offshore business structures should contact the Construction Supplier Register for further information.
2. Entity operation
Suppliers must be in business for at least two years.
Required evidence
Copy of registration or extract of company or business operation with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission or relevant register. Offshore business structures should contact the Construction Supplier Register for further information.
3. Disclosure
The Supplier must disclose any and all matters that could be reasonably anticipated to affect the integrity, reputation and probity of the Supplier, including but not limited to:
- The Supplier or any of its officers being convicted of a criminal offence (for the purposes of this clause criminal offence means a criminal offence that is a summary offence or an indictable offence)
- The Supplier or any of its officers being charged with or convicted of a offence under any of:
- the Building Act 1993 or the Building Regulations 2018
- the Environment Protection Act 2017 or the Environment Protection Regulations 2021
- the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 or the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017
- the Architects Act 1991 or the Architects Regulations 2015
- the Professional Engineers Registration Act 2019 or the Professional Engineers Registration (General, Exemption And Assessment Scheme Fees) Regulations 2021.
For the purposes of this clause an offence includes a statutory offence, or a criminal offence that is a summary offence or an indictable offence.
- The Supplier or any of its officers having any registration, license, permit or approval necessary for the Supplier to carry out Construction Works or Construction Services in Victoria (including but not limited to Building Work under the Building Act 1993) suspended or cancelled at any time.
- The Supplier or any of its officers being subject to disciplinary or penal action taken by any Regulator or disciplinary body.
Failure by a Supplier to make any disclosures required by these eligibility criteria may result in rejection of that Supplier’s application or ongoing pre-qualification on the Construction Supplier Register.
Where the Supplier makes any disclosures, the Lead Department is satisfied that those disclosures do not indicate that inclusion of the Supplier on the Construction Supplier Register could reasonably be anticipated to:
- bring or tend to bring the State or a State Agency into disrepute
- bring or tend to bring the State’s public construction and infrastructure procurement into disrepute
- adversely affect the State’s public construction and infrastructure procurement
- be inconsistent with the State’s public construction and infrastructure procurement policy objectives.
Required evidence
A letter from the Supplier, provided on letterhead and signed by a director, partner or sole practitioner confirming that full and accurate details of all relevant disclosures have been included in the letter.
The Supplier must disclose any and all matters that could be reasonably anticipated to affect the integrity, reputation and probity of the Supplier.
4. Construction works categories that require registration as building practitioner
This category is related to the building industry. The building industry encompasses work for or in connection with the construction, demolition or removal of all types of buildings. Buildings include all classes of buildings under the National Construction Code, structures, temporary buildings, temporary structures and any part of a building or structure.
This eligibility criteria applies to the pre-qualification categories of:
- Commercial Refurbishment
- Demolition
- Fire Services Contractor
- Movable Unit Contractor
- New Commercial Construction
- New Residential Construction
- Office Fit Out
- Office Fit Out (non-structural)
- Residential Refurbishment.
A company must be registered, as a registered building practitioner, with the Victorian Building Authority relevant to the pre-qualification category/ies applied for.
At least one individual who is a registered director of a company must be a registered building practitioner with the Victorian Building Authority relevant to the pre-qualification category/ies applied for.
At least one individual who is a partner within a partnership must be a registered building practitioner with the Victorian Building Authority relevant to the pre-qualification category/ies applied for.
A sole trader must be a registered building practitioner with the Victorian Building Authority relevant to the pre-qualification category/ies applied for.
Required evidence
A copy of the certificate as a registered building practitioner issued by the Victorian Building Authority, or an extract from the register of building practitioners maintained by the Victorian Building Authority. The registration must relate to the category or categories applied for.
The following specific registrations apply to pre-qualification categories for works:
Construction Supplier Register Pre-qualification category | Regulatory Body | Registration under Building Act (Vic) |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Refurbishment | Victorian Building Authority | Commercial Builder |
| Demolition | Victorian Building Authority | Demolisher |
| Fire Services Contractor | Victorian Building Authority | Commercial Builder |
| Movable Unit Contractor | Victorian Building Authority | Domestic Builder |
| New Commercial Construction | Victorian Building Authority | Commercial Builder |
| New Residential Construction | Victorian Building Authority | Domestic Builder |
| Office Fit Out | Victorian Building Authority | Commercial Builder |
| Office Fit Out (non-structural) | Victorian Building Authority | Commercial Builder (limited to non-structural fit out work) |
| Residential Refurbishment | Victorian Building Authority | Domestic Builder |
5. Construction works categories - other
This eligibility criteria applies to the pre-qualification categories of:
- Concrete Corrosion Contractor
- Lift Contractor.
At least one individual who is a registered director of a company must hold professional qualifications relevant to the pre-qualification category/ies applied for.
At least one individual who is a partner within a partnership must hold professional qualifications relevant to the pre-qualification category/ies applied for.
An individual or sole trader must hold professional qualifications relevant to the pre-qualification category/ies applied for.
Required evidence
A copy of the professional qualifications held by the supplier awarded by a recognised Australian tertiary institution. The professional qualification must relate to the category or categories applied for.
Evidence of full membership of, or eligibility for full membership of, the relevant Australian professional organisation.
6. Land Remediation Contractor
This eligibility criterion applies to the pre-qualification category of Land Remediation Contractor.
Suppliers as a company, partnership or an individual / sole trader, must hold a WorkSafe asbestos licence - Class A - friable and non-friable.
AND
Where the supplier is a company, the supplier must complete and execute the Construction Supplier Register Deed Poll and return the Deed Poll with their application for pre-qualification.
Where the supplier is a partnership, the supplier must complete and execute the Construction Supplier Register Deed Poll and return the Deed Poll with their application for pre-qualification.
Required evidence
A copy of a current WorkSafe-issued asbestos licence - Class A – friable and non-friable.
AND
If the supplier is a company or partnership, an executed Construction Supplier Register Deed Poll submitted with the application for pre-qualification.
The following specific licencing requirement applies to the pre-qualification category for Land Remediation Contractor:
Construction Supplier Register Pre-qualification category | Relevant Licencing requirement
|
|---|---|
| Land Remediation Contractor | WorkSafe-issued asbestos licence - Class A – friable and non-friable. |
7. Licensed Asbestos Removal Contractor
This eligibility criteria applies to the pre-qualification category of Licensed Asbestos Removal Contractor.
Where the supplier is a company, partnership or individual, the supplier must meet the additional criteria set out in the Construction Supplier Register’s additional technical eligibility criteria - Licensed Asbestos Removal Contractor, as determined by an assessor appointed by the Lead Department and Victorian Asbestos Eradication Agency.
Required evidence
If the supplier is a company, partnership, or an individual, submit detailed evidence of documents to satisfy each of the additional supplementary criteria listed in the CSR additional technical eligibility criteria - Licensed Asbestos Removal Contractor along with their application form.
For information, the following specific licencing requirement applies to the pre-qualification category for Licensed Asbestos Removal Contractor:
Construction Supplier Register Pre-qualification category | Relevant Licencing requirement |
|---|---|
| Licensed Asbestos Removal Contractor | WorkSafe-issued asbestos licence - Class A – friable and non-friable. |
8. Practice and experience in a pre-qualification category
The supplier’s core business must be in construction works.
Suppliers can apply for pre-qualification in one or more of the Construction Supplier Register’s construction works categories.
Suppliers must practice and have experience in the Construction Supplier Register pre-qualification category to the satisfaction of the Lead Department.
Suppliers must have completed at least three projects of a similar size and complexity for the pre-qualification category to the satisfaction of the Lead Department.
Required evidence
A list of completed projects, including details of the projects, as directed on the Construction Supplier Register’s supplier portal.
Contact details of all nominated referees for all projects.
- The Construction Supplier Register team will contact at least two nominated referees for a referee check that confirms the supplier practices in the category being applied for and holds the level of experience expected of a competent practitioner of that category.
- The Construction Supplier Register’s referee questionnaire covers a range of project performance criteria including:
- timeliness
- quality
- management of the project
- resource management
- documentation
- administration
- health and safety management
- environmental management.
9. Commitment to Supplier Code of Conduct
Suppliers must commit to the Victorian Government’s Supplier Code of Conduct.
Required evidence
A signed letter committing to uphold the Supplier Code of Conduct (in the form set out by the Lead Department).
10. Fair Jobs Code
Suppliers must hold a current Fair Jobs Code Pre-Assessment Certificate to tender for projects with an expected contract value of $1 million or more (exclusive of GST).
Required evidence
A current Fair Jobs Code Pre-Assessment Certificate, or an extract from the relevant register.
11. Insurances – minimum required
Suppliers must hold public liability insurance. The policy must:
- be occurrence-based with an amount of no less than AUD$20 million for any one claim; and
- include a clear definition for third party injury and property damage.
Suppliers must hold Victorian WorkCover insurance or provide evidence of self-insurance that covers all personnel engaged in the delivery of construction works or services.
Suppliers must hold professional indemnity insurance applies to construction works pre-qualification categories. The policy must:
- be claims-based with an amount of no less than AUD$5 million for any one claim.
Suppliers manufacturing, maintaining or modifying any products must hold product liability insurance. The policy must:
- be an occurrence-based policy with an amount of no less than AD$20 million for any one claim; and
- include a clear definition for third party injury and property damage.
Different eligibility criteria apply for Low Value Construction Works projects (i.e., projects with a value less than $750,000 (inclusive of GST).
Required evidence
Evidence of current insurance policies, in the name of the supplier.
Copy of insurance certificate of currency, in the name of the supplier.
Insurance compliance declaration, when issued to the supplier.
Evidence that the supplier has a Victorian WorkCover insurance policy or proof of self-insurance that covers all personnel engaged in the delivery of works and services.
Copy of Victorian WorkCover premium notice.
Note: The Construction Supplier Register assesses supplier’s minimum insurance requirements. However, if a supplier is engaged to undertake construction works or services, the contract may mandate different or higher insurance coverage. In such cases, the supplier must provide evidence to the contracting party that it holds the required insurance levels.
12. Occupational health and safety management
The supplier’s Occupational Health and Safety management system meets the criteria set out in Mandatory evaluation criteria for Occupational Health and Safety management (Attachment 1 to Instruction 3.7), as determined by an independent assessor appointed by the Lead Department.
Different criteria apply for Low Value Construction Works projects (projects with a value less than $750,000 (inclusive of GST)).
Required evidence
The supplier’s Occupational Health and Safety management system, including documentary evidence that the management system is in use, is assessed as meeting the criteria set out in the Detailed Guide on the mandatory Occupational Health and Safety management criteria by an independent assessor appointed by the Lead Department.
Where a supplier holds third party certification that its Occupational Health and Safety management system meets criteria 1-10 set out in Detailed Guide on the mandatory Occupational Health and Safety management criteria:
- a copy of the third-party certification
- confirmation the supplier’s operations have been assessed as meeting criteria 11-12 set out in Detailed Guide on the mandatory Occupational Health and Safety management criteria by an independent assessor appointed by the Lead Department.
Suppliers may use one of the following templates when submitting evidence of safety management processes:
13. Industrial relations management
The supplier's Industrial Relations management self-assessment meets the criteria set in Mandatory evaluation criteria for industrial relations management (Instruction 3.7.3(c) Attachment 2, to the satisfaction of the Lead Department.
OR
The supplier holds a current Fair Jobs Code Pre-Assessment Certificate.
Note: For clarity, this alternative applies only to the Industrial Relations management self-assessment. Other criteria listed in the Mandatory evaluation criteria for industrial relations management continue to apply, either during applications / annual reviews for pre-qualification, or as part of submitting a tender.
Required evidence
The supplier’s Industrial Relations management self-assessment (included as part of the Detailed guide on the mandatory industrial relations management criteria) has been assessed as meeting the criteria set in Mandatory evaluation criteria for industrial relations management (Instruction 3.7.3(c) Attachment 2, to the satisfaction of the Lead Department.
OR
Evidence that the supplier holds a current Fair Jobs Code Pre-Assessment Certificate, or an extract from a relevant register.
The supplier’s industrial relations policy has been assessed as meeting the criteria set in Mandatory evaluation criteria for industrial relations management (Instruction 3.7.3(c) Attachment 2, to the satisfaction of the Lead Department.
14. Financial standing
The supplier’s financial standing is assessed as acceptable, to the satisfaction of the Lead Department.
Required evidence
Opinion, signed by the supplier’s accountant using a form provided by the Lead Department, that for the last financial year the supplier met certain financial performance standards.
Financial statements (including profit and loss statements, balance sheets and notes to accounts) covering at a minimum the last two financial years, prepared in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards.
Where a project value greater than $15 million is applied for, audited financial statements (including profit and loss statements, balance sheets and notes to accounts) covering at a minimum the last two financial years, prepared in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards.
Financial opinion and / or statements and checks with credit reference agencies are used to confirm that for the last financial year the supplier has:
- Positive Tangible Net Worth
Tangible Net Worth is defined as ((Total assets – intangibles) - (Total Liabilities))
- Positive Working Capital
Working Capital is defined as (Current assets - Current liabilities)
- Current Ratio must be a minimum of 1
Current Ratio means (Current asset / Current Liabilities)
- History of paying creditors on time – the Lead Department talks to trade suppliers, subcontractors and other referees to determine the payment history. Consistently late payment is an indicator of potential financial difficulty.
- Credit rating – a credit rating assessment may be required in certain circumstances and will be carried out by a licensed credit rating agency.
The financial standing of the supplier has been assessed as acceptable by an independent assessor appointed by the Lead Department.
15. Maximum project limit a supplier may perform
For all construction works categories the maximum project value a supplier may perform is determined by considering the financial standing of the supplier and the supplier's project history.
The Lead Department will determine the maximum project value.
For all works categories generally, the maximum project-value limit will not be higher than the highest value project completed by the supplier in the pre-qualification category/ies applied for, provided the supplier's financial standing can support projects of that value.
The financial standing of the supplier has been assessed as acceptable, to the satisfaction of the Lead Department.
The supplier has completed at least three projects relevant to the pre-qualification category/ies and maximum project value, to the satisfaction of the Lead Department.
Required evidence
Evidence as set out for financial standing.
Evidence as set out for practice and experience in a pre-qualification category.
Note: The following steps may be used to gauge a supplier’s suitability and pre-qualification financial capacity:
Step 1 – The supplier must have
- As a minimum, a current ratio of one, and
- Net tangible assets that are not less than 5% of the supplier's construction related turnover.
Step 2 – The maximum financial capacity is usually based on the lesser of the following:
- 100 per cent of the supplier's average previous two years’ construction related turnover, or
- Ten times working capital.
In calculating the financial criteria and maximum financial capacity, assets and liabilities will be allowed where it can be demonstrated that they can be relied upon for supporting the entity in the event of default or insolvency. Examples of these assets and liabilities may include all contingent assets, all shareholder loans and all related entity loans.
Step 3 – The maximum pre-qualification project or contract value is usually determined based on the lesser of:
- the highest value of any successfully completed contract
- the supplier's maximum financial capacity.
16. Pre-qualification information
Suppliers must fully complete and accurately maintain their pre-qualification information through the Construction Supplier Register’s supplier portal, in accordance with the mandatory pre-qualification requirements, to the satisfaction of the Lead Department.
Required evidence
Accurately completed application form online, through the Construction Supplier Register’s supplier portal.
Submission of evidence of registrations, work history and operational documents as applicable to the pre-qualification categories held, at least annually.
Help and support
Contact the Construction Supplier Register team for help understanding the eligibility criteria used to assess supplier applications and monitor ongoing compliance with the Construction Supplier Register’s mandatory pre-qualification requirements.
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