Guidance for suppliers to government during phase 1 of the National Fuel Response Plan

Businesses currently supplying to government

If you're currently supplying to government, at this stage, you should continue delivering services as usual within existing contractual arrangements until otherwise advised by your agency.

Your contract or relationship manager remains your primary point of contact.

The current disruptions may have a material impact on project costs, timelines, scope, risk allocation and business operations. You're best placed to assess where the current fuel situation is putting pressure on your contractual obligations. Reach out to the government agency with evidence of this as soon as you can.

Some suppliers are seeing a significant pressure on costs due to the fuel situation. Where cost escalation is a contractual provision, raise it with your contract manager and work with them to address it.

Where cost escalation is not a contractual provision, you may seek to identify practical, time-bound workable solutions mutually with the agency and work towards mutual agreement on a solution that works for both parties.

The response by government agencies should be in good faith, fair, responsible and proportionate to the requests on cost pressures.

Early engagement with agencies, alongside scenario-based assessment of commercial, funding, and contractual settings, can help you identify risks and pressures.

Businesses currently tendering for a contract

If you're currently tendering for projects, work closely with the government agency to identify potential time-bound scenarios for cost fluctuation and delay in supply of products.

You may want to consider and discuss inclusion of appropriate risk management mechanisms, including sufficient contingency in the costing of the project.

Supply chain readiness

You should review your business continuity plans and consider what changes in fuel supply settings mean for your organisation.

Consider the potential impact on your own supply chains. Proactive supply chain planning supports more timely and proportionate responses across fuel response phases, reduces the risk of sudden delivery disruption, and strengthens preparedness. Proactively raise supply chain risks with your agency.

Suppliers and agencies should work together on a range of potential mitigation measures to ensure continuity of delivery. Ensure mitigation measures are specific, time-bound and recorded.

Government agencies are working together to understand what rising fuel prices and supply chain disruption could mean in Phases 2, 3 and 4. Agencies will continue to keep you informed with guidance to navigate the Phases accordingly.

Working together

We recognise that government agencies and industry associations are proactively sharing practical guidance about how best to approach current and future agreements. This is a great example of the public and private sectors working together to navigate the current disruption.

For more information on supplying to government:

For suppliers