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Federal government tenders for security firms
Protective security, guarding and monitoring for Commonwealth sites — here is how the federal market works.
The Commonwealth is a distinct and demanding security market. Federal guarding and protective-security requirements span departmental offices, courts, Defence establishments, agencies and diplomatic facilities across every capital, and the buying standards are set nationally through the Protective Security Policy Framework. That raises the compliance bar considerably: many contracts require personnel security clearances, adherence to protective-security controls and, for higher-classification sites, cleared facilities and vetted staff. Most recurring work is bought through panels and standing offers rather than open tenders, and federal agencies place a premium on assurance, vetting and consistent national delivery. Firms that already hold clearances and can demonstrate PSPF-aligned processes are strongly advantaged.
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Where Federal security tenders are advertised
AusTender is the single source of truth for Commonwealth security procurement, including panels, standing offers and open approaches to market. Individual departments and agencies publish protective-security and guarding requirements there, and larger requirements are often established as multi-agency panels. Defence and national-security customers may run additional restricted processes for cleared providers.
The primary portal is AusTender. You can also see what is currently open across the state on our Federal tender feed, or narrow it to your trade on the security firms feed. If you would rather not check portals at all, our guide to finding government tenders covers every jurisdiction and how to watch them together.
What you need to bid
These are the credentials Federal buyers check before they assess anything else. A gap here is a compliance failure, not a scoring deduction — it removes your bid regardless of price.
- State security business/master licences in every jurisdiction you operate, plus correctly-licensed operatives
- Personnel security clearances (Baseline through to higher levels) for staff on cleared sites
- Demonstrated alignment to the Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF)
- Public liability and workers compensation insurance to Commonwealth requirements
- National delivery and surge capacity, with documented vetting and assurance processes
Our guides on ABNs and licences for tenders and tender insurance requirements go through each of these in detail, including how long they take to obtain.
The work that actually comes up
The contracts below recur year after year in Federal (AusTender). Knowing the pattern tells you which capability to evidence in your capability statement.
- Protective security and guarding at Commonwealth office buildings
- Court and tribunal security for federal jurisdictions
- Guarding and access control at Defence and agency establishments
- Control-room monitoring and alarm response for federal sites
- Escort and asset-protection services
Pricing Federal security tenders
Commonwealth guarding is priced on hourly rates per cleared and licensed operative, with loadings for clearance level, shift timing and site classification. Panel arrangements set standing rates across participating agencies. Because clearances and PSPF assurance are costly to maintain, they are reflected in rates — but they are also the barrier that keeps the field small and protects margins for compliant providers.
For the full method — cost build-up, overhead recovery, contingency and how to sanity-check against published award values — see how to price a tender and the tender response checklist. Before you price anything, run the bid/no-bid scorecard so you are only pricing work worth winning.
Other trades in Federal
Related guides
Live tender feeds
Frequently asked questions
Do I need security clearances for federal security tenders?+
Often, yes. Many Commonwealth sites require personnel with current security clearances (from Baseline upward depending on classification). Holding cleared staff already is a major advantage because clearances take time and cost to obtain.
What is the PSPF and why does it matter?+
The Protective Security Policy Framework sets the Commonwealth’s protective-security standards. Federal security contracts expect providers to align their processes, vetting and controls to the PSPF, and tenders are assessed heavily on this assurance.
Where are federal security tenders advertised?+
All Commonwealth security procurement is published on AusTender, including panels, standing offers and open tenders. Defence and national-security buyers may run additional restricted processes for cleared providers.
Do I still need state security licences for federal work?+
Yes. Federal contracts do not override state security licensing — you must hold the relevant business/master licence and operative licences in each state where the work is performed, on top of any clearance requirements.
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