Accreditation for goods and services procurement
- Accreditation sets the highest value a NSW Government agency can procure by themselves.
- There are 2 levels of accreditation. Level 1 has different limits depending on risk. Level 2 has no limit on value an agency can procure.
- To procure over the limit, another agency has to endorse your procurement. This is called concurrence.
- There is a separate program for construction accreditation.
Understand accreditation
Procurement accreditation is a formal recognition the Procurement Board can grant. It certifies that an agency has passed the assessment set out by the Accreditation Program for Goods and Services Procurement.
There are 2 levels of accreditation
The level of accreditation sets the highest value (called maximum contract value) an agency can work with.
- Level 1 accredited agencies can procure goods and services up to different limits, depending on the level of risk.
- Level 2 accredited agencies have no limit on value.
This page gives an overview of the accreditation program. For detailed information, you can view:
See if your agency is accredited
Select a cluster to see the entities accredited for goods and services procurement, and their level of accreditation.
- Department of Communities and Justice (cluster): level 2
- Fire and Rescue NSW (agency): level 1
- NSW Police Force (agency): level 2
- Office of Sport (agency): level 1
- Rural Fire Service (agency): level 1
- State Emergency Services (agency): level 1
- Venues NSW (agency): level 1
- Department of Customer Service (cluster): level 2
- Department of Education (cluster): level 2
- NSW Education Standards Authority (agency): level 1
- TAFE NSW (agency): level 2
- Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (cluster): level 1
- Sydney Olympic Park Authority (agency): level 1
- Department of Transport (cluster): level 2
- NSW Health (cluster): level 2
- NSW Procurement (cluster): level 2
- Infrastructure NSW (agency): level 1
Both cluster and entity have a combined level 2 accreditation.
If your agency isn't accredited
Unaccredited agencies can procure up to certain limits. These limits are called maximum contract values (MCVs).
The current MCVs are outlined in PBD-2021-04 Approved procurement arrangements.
If your procurement is over the limit
For contracts over the limits, unaccredited agencies or agencies accredited to level 1 must seek concurrence.
To chart your path through MCVs, schemes and enforceable procurement provisions, use the decision tree for level 1 agencies.
Get accredited
To get accredited, your agency needs to engage an independent assessor.
The assessor will analyse your procurement function and prepare a report. The NSW Procurement Board will review the report to decide whether to grant accreditation.
Maintain accreditation
Accreditation has no end date. An agency will keep their accreditation as long as they meet ongoing obligations.
Understand concurrence
In goods and services procurement, the process of endorsing, or assuring, a procurement is called concurrence.
If your procurement is over the limit your agency can procure, another agency has to provide assurance. The other agency must be:
- within your cluster
- accredited to the appropriate level of value and risk.
If there isn't an agency that meets the criteria, you can reach out to NSW Procurement.