06.1
From specification to contract
Finance’s guidance Application and Verification of Standards walks through paragraphs 7.27, 7.28 and 10.10 of the rules, the version that took effect on 17 November 2025. Read in order, they follow a procurement through four stages.
- Stage 1
The specification
CPR 10.9, 10.10Where appropriate, specifications are based on international standards “when they exist and apply to the relevant procurement, except when the use of international standards would fail to meet the relevant entity’s requirements.” Specifications and conformity assessment procedures must not create “an unnecessary obstacle to trade”.
- Stage 2
The tender
CPR 7.27The request documents must name any applicable standard and tell suppliers they must show their capability to meet it. Finance says this approach lets suppliers do so “without needing to produce the certification at the tender stage”, which reduces cost for suppliers who may not win the contract.
- Stage 3
The contract
CPR 7.27“Contracts must contain evidence of the applicable standards.” Finance suggests clauses that provide evidence of compliance and “allow for compliance auditing, where relevant.”
- Stage 4
During the contract
CPR 7.28The buying agency “must make reasonable enquiries to determine compliance with that standard during the contract period”, including “gathering evidence of relevant certifications” and “periodic auditing of compliance by an independent assessor.”
The enquiries are meant to fit the risk. Finance writes that “a short-term low risk procurement may require minimal verification, whereas a long-term, high-risk contract may warrant more rigorous and frequent compliance checks and annual auditing.”
06.2
Finance’s own worked example
The guidance ends with a short case study about an agency buying “a widget”. It is Finance’s illustration, not a real procurement, and it shows where a certificate fits.
At tender, the demonstration “may be in the form of a certificate, a detailed explanation of how the proposed product meets the standard’s requirements, or a plan outlining how the tenderer intends to meet the standard, if awarded the contract.”
In the contract, the agency includes clauses for “evidence of compliance with the applicable standard (e.g. certification by an accredited body)” and for “periodic auditing by an independent assessor, either arranged by the supplier or by the entity”.
“Certification by an accredited body” is the phrase to notice. It is the difference set out in the guide certified or accredited, and a certificate of that kind can be looked up as described in checking a certificate.
06.3
Who may do the checking
“Independent assessor” is wider than it sounds. Finance says the method “will vary on a case-by-case basis” and gives these examples.
| Who | Finance’s description |
|---|---|
| Outside specialists | “third party specialists (e.g. specialist auditor or assessor)” |
| Inside the agency | “an employee or contractor within the entity (who may be able to complete relevant testing)” |
| Separate from the purchase | “an employee who is not otherwise involved in the procurement (i.e. an internal audit or WHS team)” |
06.4
What counts as a standard here
For these rules, a standard is a document approved by a recognised body “such as Standards Australia, the International Organization for Standardization, the International Electrotechnical Commission or the International Telecommunication Union”, with which compliance is not mandatory “unless the goods or services are subject to regulation by government.” Finance gives three examples of mandatory, legislated Australian Standards: electrical safety, consumer product safety, and building and plumbing standards.
Where no international standard exists, or one would not meet the agency’s needs, an Australian Standard may apply instead; one example Finance gives is an international standard that “does not meet an Australian legislated requirement.” Finance also asks agencies to check that any standard they include is “reasonable and proportionate”, and says “Standards should not unnecessarily exclude capable suppliers.”
ISO’s own pages show the same pattern from the other side: it lists government tenders among the situations in which ISO 9001 certification is commonly requested, and says ISO 14001 certification may be required by “public tenders where environmental performance is part of the selection criteria.”
06.5
Where these rules stop
The Commonwealth Procurement Rules govern how Australian Government entities buy goods and services. Finance’s guidance applies paragraphs 7.27, 7.28 and 10.10 to procurements valued above the relevant procurement thresholds, except those covered by the exemptions in Appendix A. Finance notes that it is still updating its guidance to reflect the changes that took effect on 17 November 2025.
State and territory tenders are outside them: business.gov.au notes that “Each state and territory government has its own agency responsible for tenders and contracts”, and lists them on its find tenders and contracts page.