AIP plans detail how Australian Government funding recipients will give Australian industry a full, fair and reasonable opportunity to participate in government funded projects.
AIP plans do not impact a funding recipients’ commercial decisions or mandate using Australian industry for projects. What they do is give Australian industry the opportunity to show their capabilities when funding recipients consider their project purchasing decisions.
When AIP plans apply
You may need to prepare and use an AIP plan if you are awarded:
- an Australian Government procurement contract of $20 million or more
- an Australian Government grant of $20 million or more
- an Australian Government payment of $20 million or more through a state or territory government for large infrastructure projects
- a Clean Energy Finance Corporation, Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility or National Reconstruction Fund Corporation investment of $20 million or more.
If you’re receiving Australian Government funding of $20 million or more for an eligible productive facility with a capital expenditure of $500 million or more, contact the Australian Industry Participation Authority to discuss your AIP requirements under the Australian Jobs Act 2013.
AIP plan contents
AIP plans require you to describe the actions you’ll take to give full, fair and reasonable opportunity to Australian industry to participate in your project. Communicating your actions openly ensures all capable Australian suppliers can bid for work throughout all stages of your project. Your plan must include:
- Expected opportunities to supply important goods and services.
- How you will develop an understanding of Australian industry capability before approaching the market for goods and services.
- What strategies you will use to communicate openly and widely opportunities for Australian suppliers to supply goods and services. This includes the publicly accessible website that will host:
- general information about your project
- supply opportunities
- pre-qualification requirements
- contact details for supplier enquiries.
- What assessment criteria you will use to assess suppliers on the same basis.
- How you will provide feedback to unsuccessful tenderers.
- How you will manage flow down AIP plan requirements with your contractors and sub-contractors.
- How you will help Australian suppliers to develop their capability and integrate into global supply chains.
AIP plan requirements for government agencies
If you’re a government agency planning a tender, grant, investment or financing valued at $20 million or more, contact our department to discuss if you need an AIP plan.
If you do need an AIP plan, we will provide a link and user guide for you to start the AIP plan online using the SmartForm system.
We can also provide you model clauses to include in:
- tender documentation
- grant guidelines
- funding agreements or contracts.
Once we have approved the AIP plan, you must review the funding recipients’ implementation reports to evaluate their actions against the AIP plan.
On approving implementation reports in the SmartForm system, copies will be sent to the funding recipient, the funding agency, and our department.
AIP plan requirements for tenderers, grantees and loan recipients
If you’re awarded an Australian Government procurement contract, grant or investment, you‘ll need your AIP plan in place before:
- executing a contract or head agreement with the funding agency
- achieving financial close.