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The Department of Defence is responsible for defending Australia and its national interests. Therefore, it is no surprise that there are no compromises when it comes to quality and selling to Defence.
Defence is a multi-billion-dollar industry, providing an abundance of opportunities for Australian businesses and potential suppliers, of all sizes, across Australia. By understanding the requirements and tender process, you will be on your way to building a stronger, winning business case – and ultimately, securing long-term projects for your organisation.
In this blog, we will uncover:
- What is required to tender for Department of Defence Contracts?
- Your Guide to Understanding Management Systems
- How Certification Works
- 8 Step Implementation Plan
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What is Required to Tender for Department of Defence Contracts?
Before submitting a tender application for a Department of Defence contract, it is essential you understand the requirements needed to be successful.
You will need to prepare:
- An Orgnanisational Snapshot
- Endorsement of Suitability
- Evidence of Financial Stability
- Confirmation of Compliance
- Insurance Verification
- Proof of Life
There are optional extras you can include to help your business standout from competitors.
In addition to the above, you will need to become a Defence Industry Security Program (DISP) member. This ensures you are able to understand and manage security risks appropriate for Defence.
By developing the necessary service offerings, skills, tools, and accreditation, you will be better equipped to demonstrate your business alignment with Defence’s requirements.
Looking to Tender for Defence Opportunities? Download our Free Guide Here.
The first step towards becoming a trusted supplier is to understand what is required to tender for a Defence contract. This involves developing a tender that not only ticks all the boxes but rises above the competition. What is required to tender for Department of Defence contracts
Who are the key stakeholders in Defence
Getting Defence ready
DISP requirements
Steps to certification
Download our free guide to learn more about:
Understanding Management Systems
A management system can help streamline your business processes, improve business performance, and demonstrate your capabilities to meet customer needs. An effective management system looks at managing and optimising risks, improve performance and transparency, and fuel a culture of continual improvement. This can be achieved by adopting standards and certifying your management systems.
Being ISO certified can provide an immediate boost to your organisation’s credibility and reputation, as well as a competitive edge. With issues concerning Quality, Environmental, Health & Safety, and Information Security being applicable to virtually all organisations, below is a list of the most common standards Manufacturers certify to:
ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems
An Environmental Management System is a set of business processes and documentation that control the conditions and factors that affect, or could affect the environment (including; air, water, land, natural resources, flora, fauna, human and their relationship) to protect the environment and respond to change in environment.
ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems
A Quality Management System based on the ISO 9001 principles is a set of business processes and documentation that focuses on the enhancement of customer satisfaction by meeting customer requirements.
ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems
OH&S Management System is a set of business processes and documentation that control the conditions and factors that affect or could affect the health and safety of workers (including temporary workers and contractor personnel), visitors, or any other person in the workplace, to avoid their ill health and/or injury.
ISO 27001 Information Security Management Systems
Organisations and their information systems are at risk of security threats from sources including; fraud, espionage, sabotage, and natural causes. ISO 27001 enables organisations to align with global best-practice for information security management. It offers organisations a robust and practical framework to assist with the improvement of information security, focusing on the preservation of confidentiality, integrity and availability of information. ISO 27001 meets the DISP requirements for ICT security.
Step 1: Getting Started
- Purchase the relevant management systems Standard
- Appoint an internal business champion to oversee implementation
- Undertake optional training or engage an experienced external consultant for effective implementation
- Build and start to implement your management system Standard
Step 2: Applying for Certification
- Contact SAI Global and discuss your requirements
- We work with you to build a proposal and appropriate timeline
- Perform a self-evaluation in preparation for establishing your system documentation
Step 3: Certification
- A Stage 1 Audit or readiness review of your management system is performed within 3-6 months from your Gap Analysis
- A Stage 2 Audit is performed to verify the implementation across all sites, is conducted 3-6 months from your Stage 1 audit
- Upon successful completion, SAI Global will complete a submission and application with JAS-ANZ and provide you with a certificate.
Step 4: Maintenance
- Ongoing organisational improvement and maintenance needs to be evaluated through periodic internal audits and reviews
- SAI Global will conduct a shorter Surveillance audit periodically to ensure ongoing compliance
- A Recertification Audit is conducted every three years to ensure your full system is compliant
Step 5: Maximising Certification
- Show off your success!
- Market your certification for brand and promotional benefits
- Compete in Defence and Defence Primes’ tenders
- Share with Stakeholders and Shareholders
Improve Business Creditability with 5 Ticks
Only organisations certified by SAI Global have access to display the highly regarded ‘Five Ticks’ StandardsMark™ on a product or management system.
In fact, 70% of consumers said they used quality indicators such as the 5 ticks logo to help them to select products. The recognition in the marketplace gives your customers the assurance that your organisation has undergone a rigorous audit and testing program – with 77% of consumers surveyed agree that the 5 ticks logo meant that a product could be trusted.
8 Step Implementation Plan
Once you have adopted the appropriate Standards for your organisation, you should follow a structured and systematic approach to implement your management systems. This includes developing documentation to meet business and standards requirements, training staff and implement systems in the business, conducting internal audits, and management review meetings.
Effective Management Systems focus on the organisation’s performance, where key priorities and objectives are clear, and the system compliments business processes.
Below is an 8 step guide to assist with this process:
- Provide awareness and training
- Define strategic objectives
- Design and document processes
- Implement the new processes
- Conduct a gap analysis
- Assign corrective action to any gaps identified in the previous step
- Have a certification audit via your chosen Certification Body
- Continually measure, monitor and review
Why SAI Global
We’re here to help you, help the Department of Defence build a world-class, globally competitive and sustainable Australian Industry today.
With over 25 years of experience and a global reputation built on first-class delivery and technical support. SAI Global has partnered with the Defence Industry for decades, engaging with hundreds of Defence suppliers and contractors throughout their assessment and certification process – while making the process as seamless and simple as possible.
Adding value is at the core of our business and our processes. Let us show you how assessment and certification can add value to your business.
Australia-wide, delivering over 60,000 audits each year, your local SAI Global team is equipped to support your unique requirements.