Eligibility criteria for suppliers of construction services

Who can apply for pre-qualification onto the Construction Supplier Register as a supplier of construction services?

Suppliers of construction services with demonstrated expertise to tender for projects with contract values $300,000 and above (inclusive of Goods and Services Tax) may apply for pre-qualification onto the Construction Supplier Register in any of the construction services pre-qualification categories at any time.

Suppliers interested in other pre-qualification pathways are encouraged to follow the information 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 at all times.

What is the definition of construction services?

Construction services encompass 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 services pre-qualification categories are summarised on the pre-qualification categories webpage and are also listed below for ease of review. The Construction Supplier Register’s construction services pre-qualification categories are specific to the building industry:

• Architectural
• Engineering
  • Acoustics
  • Civil Engineering
  • Communications
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Energy Management
  • Fire Protection
  • Fire Safety Engineering
  • Geotechnical
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Structural Engineering
• Building Surveying
• Quantity Surveying
• Drafting Services (Architectural)
• Interior Design
• Building Condition Assessment
• Contamination Testing
• Construction Management
• Contract Management
• Landscape Architecture
• Project Management

What are the eligibility criteria that must be met by suppliers of construction services pre-qualified on the Construction Supplier Register?

The Construction Supplier Register’s eligibility criteria outlined below are used to assess applications and maintain pre-qualification on the Construction Supplier Register from suppliers of construction services (tendering for engagements with a value of $300,000 and above (inclusive of GST)).

Suppliers of construction services must meet the Construction Supplier Register’s:

• eligibility criteria for construction services listed below (for pre-qualification in the construction services pre-qualification categories)
• eligibility criteria applying to all suppliers pre-qualified on 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.

• 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 services category/ies that require registration as an architect

This eligibility criteria applies to the pre-qualification category: Architectural.

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.

An approved company must hold registration with the Architects Registration Board of Victoria.

An approved partnership must hold registration with the Architects Registration Board of Victoria.

At least one individual who is a registered director of a company must hold registration with the Architects Registration Board of Victoria.

At least one individual who is a partner within a partnership must hold registration with the Architects Registration Board of Victoria.

An individual or sole trader must hold registration with the Architects Registration Board of Victoria.

Required evidence

A copy of the certificate of registration as an architect issued by the Architects Registration Board of Victoria in the name of the company, partnership or individual, or an extract from the register of architects maintained by the Architects Registration Board of Victoria.

For information, the following specific registrations apply to the pre-qualification category for Architectural:

5. Construction services categories that require registration as an engineer

This eligibility criteria applies to the following pre-qualification categories:

• Acoustics
• Civil Engineering
• Communications
• Electrical Engineering
• Energy Management
• Fire Protection
• Fire Safety Engineering
• Geotechnical
• Mechanical Engineering
• Structural Engineering.

These categories are 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.

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.

An individual or sole trader must hold registration as practising professional engineer, endorsed as a building engineer, with the Business Licensing Authority, relevant to the pre-qualification category/ies applied for.

Required evidence

Where the supplier is a company or partnership, executed Construction Supplier Register Deed Poll for engineering-related categories submitted with the application for pre-qualification.

Where the supplier is an individual or sole trader, a copy of the certificate issued by the Business Licensing Authority, showing registration as a practising professional engineer, together with an endorsement to practise in the building industry. The endorsement certificate must relate to the category or categories applied for.

For information, the following specific registrations apply to pre-qualification categories:

6. Construction services categories that require registration as a building surveyor

This eligibility criteria applies to the pre-qualification category: Building Surveying.

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.

A company must hold registration, 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 of registration, 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.

For information, the following specific registrations apply to the pre-qualification category for Building Surveying:

7. Construction services categories that require registration as a quantity surveyor

This eligibility criteria applies to the pre-qualification category: Quantity Surveying.

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.

At least one individual who is a registered director of 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 partner within a partnership must be registered as a registered building practitioner with the Victorian Building Authority relevant to the pre-qualification category(ies) applied for.

A sole trader must hold registration, as 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 of registration, 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.

For information, the following specific registrations apply to the pre-qualification category for Quantity Surveying:

8. Construction services categories that require registration as a building practitioner

This eligibility criteria applies to the pre-qualification categories of:

• Drafting Services (Architectural)
• Interior Design.

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 of registration, 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.

For information, the following specific registrations apply to the pre-qualification that require registration:

9. Construction services categories that require professional qualifications

This eligibility criteria applies to the pre-qualification categories of:

• Building Condition Assessment
• Contamination Testing
• Construction Management
• Contract Management
• Landscape Architecture
• Project Management
• Asbestos Inspection and Hygiene Services.

At least one individual who is a registered director of a company must hold professional qualifications relevant to the category(ies) applied for.

At least one individual who is a partner within a partnership must hold professional qualifications relevant to the category(ies) applied for.

An individual or sole trader must hold professional qualifications relevant to the category(ies) applied for.

For suppliers applying for category Building condition assessment with registration as a Practising and endorsed Building Professional Engineer

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.

An individual or sole trader must hold registration as practising professional engineer, endorsed as a building engineer, with the Business Licensing Authority, 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/ies applied for.

For suppliers that hold professional qualifications obtained outside of Australia, recognition of prior learning issued by the relevant Australian professional organisation.

Evidence of registration from the relevant regulatory body, or full membership or eligibility for full membership of the relevant Australian professional organisation.

For suppliers applying for the category Building condition assessment with registration as a Practising and Endorsed Building Professional Engineer

Where the supplier is a company or partnership, executed Construction Supplier Register Deed Poll submitted with the application for pre-qualification.

Where the supplier is a partnership, executed Construction Supplier Register Deed Poll submitted with the application for pre-qualification.

Where the supplier is an individual or sole trader, a copy of the certificate issued by the Business Licensing Authority, showing registration as a practising professional engineer, together with an endorsement to practise in the building industry. The endorsement certificate must relate to the category or categories applied for.

Required qualifications / professional registrations for construction services pre-qualification categories requiring professional qualifications:

10. Asbestos Inspection and Hygiene Services

This additional eligibility criteria applies to the pre-qualification category of Asbestos Inspection and Hygiene Services.

Where the supplier is a company, partnership or individual, the supplier must meet the additional supplementary criteria set out in the Construction Supplier Register’s additional technical eligibility criteria for pre-qualification category- Asbestos Inspection and Hygiene Services, as determined by an assessor appointed by the Lead Department and Victorian Asbestos Eradication Agency.

CSR additional technical eligibility criteria for pre-qualification category - Asbestos Inspection and Hygiene Services (WORD 74.93 KB)

AND

Where the supplier is a company, the supplier must complete and execute the Construction Supplier Register Deed Poll - Asbestos Inspection and Hygiene Services 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 - Asbestos Inspection and Hygiene Services and return the Deed Poll with their application for pre-qualification.

Required evidence

If the supplier is a company, partnership, or an individual, submit detailed evidence of documents to satisfy each of the additional criteria listed in the CSR additional technical eligibility criteria for pre-qualification category - Asbestos Inspection and Hygiene Services along with their application form.

AND

Where the supplier is a company executed Construction Supplier Register Deed Poll - Asbestos Inspection and Hygiene Services submitted with the application for pre-qualification.

Where the supplier is a partnership, executed Construction Supplier Register Deed Poll - Asbestos Inspection and Hygiene Services submitted with the application for pre-qualification.

11. Practice and experience in a pre-qualification category

The supplier’s core business must be in construction-related building services.

Suppliers can apply for pre-qualification in one or more of the Construction Supplier Register’s construction services 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.

12. Commitment to the Victorian Government’s 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).

13. 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.

14. 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.

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.

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

15. Occupational health and safety management

The supplier’s Occupational Health and Safety management system meets the criteria set out in the 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.

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 the supplier holds third party certification that its Occupational Health and Safety management system meets criteria 1-10 set out in Mandatory evaluation criteria for Occupational Health and Safety management:

• a copy of the third-party certification, and
• 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:

16. Maximum project limit a supplier may perform

For all construction services categories the maximum project value a supplier may perform is determined by considering the supplier’s project history.

The Lead Department will determine the maximum project value.

For all construction services categories generally, the maximum project-value limit will not be higher than the highest value project completed by the supplier.

Required evidence

Evidence as set out for practice and experience in a pre-qualification category.

17. 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.