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Ministry of Education New Zealand

When you can apply for an exemption

If your school-led property procurement has a contract value of $100,000 (excluding GST) or more, you must use the open tender method to approach the market. In some circumstances, you can apply for an exemption to use a closed tender or direct source process instead.

These circumstances are:

  • An emergency resulting in injury or critical damage to property or infrastructure. For example, a major weather event.
  • An urgent situation with high risk of harm to students or staff. For example, urgent fencing for a student’s safety.
  • An open tender process was advertised within the last 12 months and no supplier met the conditions.
  • There is only 1 supplier in the market. For example, when buying intellectual property rights or a work of art.
  • When new requirements arise during a project and it would be very difficult or expensive to change supplier.
  • A prototype or pilot is purchased for research, experiment, study, or original development.

How to apply for an exemption

Send a completed procurement exemption request form to your property advisor for endorsement. The procurement sponsor (a school board member) must have signed it.

docx thumbnailSchool-led property procurement exemption request
DownloadDOCX81KB

If urgent fencing is required for the health and safety of a student, use this form.

docx thumbnailUrgent fencing procurement exemption request
DownloadDOCX79KB
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