Supplier information

Federation University has an eTendering portal, VendorPanel Marketplace Public Tenders, as an efficient and secure tool designed to manage tendering activities, accurately recording the tender process for both the University and the tenderers.

To access tenders released by Federation University, suppliers must be registered on the Public Marketplace. Registration is free for suppliers.  VendorPanel Marketplace is a third-party application and is not exclusive to Federation University, as such you may receive tender notifications from other companies in the category(s) that you have registered.  For that reason, it is important to include the regions that your business can service.  Federation University has campuses based in the following regions:

• Central Highlands
• Gippsland
• Melbourne
• Western District
• Wimmera

Organisations with more than one user may consider allocating an Administrator with a generic email address who can ensure all users (or colleagues) of your organisation stay linked.  For further information or assistance using VendorPanel, check the Suppliers Help Centre on the website or submit a request for support from VendorPanel.

Any additional tender information or addenda during the advertising period will be communicated via the portal.  Enquiries in relation to the content of a tender must be posted through the tender portal. Questions posted by this method will be brought to the attention of the Project Manager and their response distributed to all interested parties via the portal. Unauthorised communication with University staff or representatives may lead to disqualification of an interested party’s tender.

Register / Login to VendorPanel

Federation University manages the Request for Quote (RFQ) process through VendorPanel, using both the Public Marketplace and Enterprise Supplier Lists (for contracted supplier panels, by invite only).  The use of this portal provides a convenient tool for University staff (buyers) to identify suppliers that are located within the regions of our campuses and include them in their RFQ, whilst ensuring the University’s RFQs are conducted in a documented and consistent manner with appropriate tools to ensure probity of process.

Register via VendorPanel Marketplace, and follow the step-by-step instructions. The public Marketplace is free for suppliers and, once registered, the supplier’s business profile will be visible to any buyer searching in the supply category of the region/s that the supplier is located.

For assistance using the portal, check the Suppliers Help Centre on the website where you can also submit a request for support from VendorPanel.

Suppliers may also be contacted by Federation University staff to supply an official written quote.  The University is under no obligation to make payment to suppliers who submit invoices in respect of verbal or unofficial requests for goods or services.  Suppliers must not issue goods or services without acceptance of a Federation University Purchase Order.  This Purchase Order number must be specified on the valid tax invoice issued to the University.  For further information please refer to: Vendor Terms and Conditions.

Suppliers should ensure they read all information provided in a request for tender (RFT) or quote (RFQ) and familiarise themselves with the specifications and conditions. Federation University procurement decisions are made considering the total cost of ownership and risk analysis, including how they may affect the University’s financial position, reputation and strategic outcomes.  RFT or RFQs are carefully planned before going to market. They include specified criteria used by the buyer or evaluation panel to assess submissions, which are generally made up of the following evaluation criteria:

1. Conditions – does the tenderer comply with mandatory & contract requirements?
2. Non-cost evaluation – does the tenderer meet or exceed expectations in capacity and capability, relevant skills and experience, timelines, and quality assurance?
3. Value for money – An overall assessment of the fixed price and/or schedule of rates in conjunction with the total cost of ownership/whole of life costs. This means that the cheapest price does not necessarily mean the best value for money, as the assessment considers wider benefits to the University.

Addressing the crimes of modern slavery and human trafficking is a vitally important, global human rights issue. Federation University is committed to protecting all human rights.

This Anti-Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy governs our approach to ethical sourcing and the prevention of worker exploitation. Our approach includes the identification and management of the risks of the modern slavery and human trafficking within our operations and supply chains.

The Policy should be read in conjunction with University legislation, policies, procedures and workplace agreements. Suppliers and partners (as defined in the Policy) and volunteers are expected to comply with the Policy as a condition of their engagement with the University.

The Anti-Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy can be found here: Anti-modern slavery and human trafficking policy.

Federation University (Federation) is strongly committed to reconciliation and Indigenous matters through our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). Our RAP is currently being developed and will engage across all areas of the university including divisional portfolios of Academic, Global and Community Engagement, Federation TAFE, Learner Experience, Operations, and Research and Innovation.

The Federation Indigenous Procurement Strategy has been developed with these key objectives:

• To engage with key areas of Indigenous entrepreneurship, employment opportunities and economic participation.
• To increase opportunities at Federation for Indigenous suppliers, and Indigenous goods and services.
• To expand supplier diversity, equity, and inclusion in Federation’s supply chain.

Supplier diversity has significant and measurable long-term business benefits – data clearly indicates that diverse supply chains are more sustainable, flexible and innovative. Supplier diversity is designed to harness planned and budgeted procurement spend and redirect it to traditionally under-represented businesses where it can create greater social good.

Federation University is a member of Supply Nation and we work with Supply Nation to identify, and where possible, buy from and support verified Indigenous businesses.  Supply Nation works to connect over 2,100 verified Indigenous businesses on Indigenous Business Direct with more than 450 paid corporate, government and not-for-profit members in every state and territory.

Kinaway Chamber of Commerce is the leading Victorian organisation dedicated to supporting Victorian Indigenous business owners.  Kinaway’s focus is on changing Indigenous people’s lives through a strength-based model of business ownership and participation in the Victorian economy.

Kinaway Chamber of Commerce works closely with businesses by providing support, networking, advocacy and partnerships. These services provide an essential framework to promote and support the ongoing operation of Aboriginal businesses.  Kinaway Chamber of Commerce fosters and develops partnerships with government, corporates, and academia to build procurement opportunities and facilitate support to Indigenous businesses.

Federation staff are encouraged and supported to use Supply Nation and Kinaway panels in VendorPanel in the first instance of procuring goods or services to identify any suitable businesses.

As Australia’s leading regional University, Federation University’s strategic objectives and outcomes are to transform lives and enhance communities, as a strong and sustainable University. The University is continually seeking new and innovative ideas from our supplier relationships that will provide real and tangible benefits to our students and the regional areas.

The University’s Social and Sustainable Procurement Objectives are focussed in the following key areas:

• Local sourcing from the regions where our campuses are located
• Supporting Social Enterprises
• Environmentally sustainable outputs
• Diversity and inclusion in the supply chain
• Opportunities for people who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, people with a disability, people who are long-term unemployed, young people, transitioning people from retracting industries, and newly arrived migrants and refugees.
• Supporting safe and fair workplaces

Federation University is a member of GROW Gippsland - highlighting our commitment to purchasing from local suppliers where possible. GROW (Growing Regional Opportunities for Work) is a collaborative approach to local economic development and jobs growth in the region, achieved through local and social procurement and inclusive employment. GROW seeks to strengthen social and economic outcomes and increase job opportunities through maximising local spend in the region and focussing on generating job opportunities.

I want to become a supplier to Federation University.  What should I do?

Register your organisation on VendorPanel Public Marketplace. You may also email your business capability statement to procurement@federation.edu.au. Your details will then be forwarded to the relevant key stakeholder to contact you if there is a business need for the goods and/or services you provide.

What is the difference between an approved supplier and a contracted supplier?

An approved supplier is an active supplier/vendor in Federation University’s purchasing system.  A contracted supplier is a preferred supplier of goods or services to the University that has an executed contract for that supply which has been negotiated between both parties.

What are contracted supplier panels?

A list of suppliers who have undergone a competitive tender process and entered into an Agreement with the University for the supply of a particular good and/or service type, as required, for the Term of the Agreement.  Authorised University buyers can access a supplier panel that matches their requirements and conduct a Request for Quote process (according to approved spend thresholds) between those suppliers without requiring a new Agreement to be executed

Where can I find your current tender opportunities?

All current public opportunities are advertised on VendorPanel Marketplace Public Tenders.  Interested suppliers are required to register, ask any questions, and place their submission on the portal.

We may also advertise and provide a link to a public tender at the following: Supply Nation’s Member Opportunity Board (MOB), Buying for Victoria, Gippsland Business Connect, and GROW.

Do I need to be inducted to come on campus?

Any company/business who has staff undertaking works on a Federation University campus/work-site, is required to register on our contractor induction system and to have any staff undertaking works complete the applicable contractor induction modules.

To gain access to our contractor induction system (Rapid Global) please email the following information for your company to PropertyInfrastructure@federation.edu.au:

• Company name
• Contact person
• Email address
• Phone number

When these details have been entered into our system, you will receive an email providing further information and a link to the Rapid Global portal. This will allow you to complete the registration of your company and obtain induction keys to allow your staff to complete the inductions.