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Ministry of Education New Zealand

Procurement rules

We require schools to follow the government procurement rules when planning a property project and approaching suppliers.

​​Government procurement rules – New Zealand Government Procurement

Projects valued under $10,000 do not need a procurement plan. The property advisor might ask for a procurement plan or some procurement information.

Projects valued at over $10,000 must have a procurement plan and follow our procurement process. Your school will need to put together a procurement plan and get it approved by us before starting procurement.

Write down the requirements

Write down requirements that describe what the project will deliver. The document should cover the wanted outcomes of the project and the skills and resources needed.

You can share this document with a project manager to develop a detailed specification and estimate pricing. All projects requiring a building consent need a professional project manager.

Confirming funding

You will need a confirmed budget before starting the procurement process. Check with your property advisor to confirm that funds are available to complete the project.

Funding for a school-led project might be available through any of the following channels:

  • 5 Year Agreement (5YA)
  • Property Maintenance Grant
  • Learning Support Property Modifications.

Planning the project

Your budget will determine the level of planning you need.

Projects less than $10,000

Record what is being purchased and why. The school board must approve the spend and invoicing.

Project more than $10,000

School-led projects valued over $10,000 need a procurement plan. A project manager can help with putting this together.

The plan must include a detailed statement of requirements. This detail will be used in your tender document.

If your school is not using an external project manager, you still need to follow the procurement process.

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