Elements and Performance Criteria

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Practical requirements may include:
phases or stages of the procurement activity
timeframes
expertise needed
facilities needed
software and other tools needed
Stakeholders may include:
end users, customers or clients, and sponsors
current or potential providers or suppliers
technical or functional experts or advisers
commonwealth, state or territory, and local government
the organisation
other public sector organisations
employees, unions and staff associations
industry bodies
local communities
lobby groups and special user groups
Standards of performance and codes of practice may include:
value for money
quality measures
benchmarks
milestones and timeframes
performance indicators
codes of practice and standards of behaviour
Requests for offers may include invitations to submit:
tenders
proposals
quotations
expressions of interest
Input may be obtained through:
exposure of draft request for offer
request for information
industry comment process
Offers may include:
tenders
written quotations
proposals
expressions of interest
Offer evaluation plan should:
be consistent with public sector and organisational legislation, policy and guidelines, such as:
commonwealth or state and territory legislation, including:
equal employment opportunity and anti-discrimination
risk management
security and confidentiality
council rules and by-laws
commonwealth, and state or territory government procurement guidelines, including environmental purchasing, access and equity, social justice guidelines
organisational policies and practices
environmental, sustainability and corporate social responsibility principles
include practical and measurable criteria for selecting the provider and explanation of process that will be used to make selection
Criteria for evaluation may include:
value for money
demonstrated capacity to deliver outcomes
available expertise
project management expertise to deliver the outcomes on time and within budget
meeting specific policy requirements, such as buying locally and environmental sustainability
innovation
Specialist expertise may include:
financial
legal
technical and user representatives
commercial
probity
logistics
Probity requirements:
may include:
accountability
transparency
confidentiality
managing conflict of interest
impartiality
are maintained to:
ensure conformity to processes
facilitate accountability
ensure proponents are treated in a fair and equitable manner
encourage commercial completion
preserve public and private sector confidence in government processes
Offers are received:
using a variety of forms, including:
traditional paper-based tender responses
computer disk
electronic, such as internet, email, facsimile, and electronic tendering system
by a variety of delivery methods, including:
post
courier
by hand
electronic lodgement
Probity issues may include:
equity of access to tender documents
fairness in provision of information
decisions about when to accept or reject late tenders
inappropriate assistance to prepare a tender
conflict of interest.

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment
Competency must be demonstrated in the development and distribution of requests for offers; performed consistently and in accordance with legislative and organisational requirements.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Assessment must confirm the ability to:
consult with stakeholders to develop a specification suited to the particular procurement being completed
develop request for offer documentation, using templates where available
develop offer evaluation plans with suitable evaluation criteria and evaluation process, using templates where available
manage the release of requests for offers to industry
manage the receipt of responses from industry
apply probity principles relevant to this stage of the procurement process
Consistency in performance
Competency should be demonstrated by providing evidence of undertaking a range of relevant work tasks in an actual or simulated procurement environment on at least two separate occasions.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
The unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment.
Access may be required to:
legislation, policy, procedures and protocols relating to procurement of goods and services
codes of conduct and codes of practice
workplace scenarios and case studies relating to a range of procurement activities associated with developing and distributing requests for offers
case studies that incorporate dilemmas, and probity requirements relating to developing and distributing requests for offers
Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
questions to assess understanding of relevant legislation and procedures
review of strategies and approaches adopted for developing and distributing requests for offers
review of requests for offers (including specifications), offer evaluation plans, industry briefs, risk assessments and other documentation prepared by the candidate in a range of contexts
review of stakeholder engagement strategies used by the candidate.
In all cases, practical assessment should be supported by questions to assess underpinning knowledge and those aspects of competency which are difficult to assess directly. Questioning techniques should suit the language and literacy levels of the candidate.
Guidance information for assessment
Evidence must be gathered over time in a range of contexts to ensure the person can achieve the unit outcome and apply the competency in different situations or environments.
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:
PSPETHC401A Uphold and support the values and principles of public service
PSPGOV417A Identify and treat risks
PSPGOV421A Exercise delegations
PSPLEGN401A Encourage compliance with legislation in the public sector
PSPPROC411A Plan procurement
PSPPROC413A Select providers and develop contracts
PSPPROC414A Manage contracts.