The size of the supplier access to major projects grant was not revealed by ICN, which uses funding to work with project developers "in identifying supply opportunities for capable and competitive Australian companies".

"ICN has done some initial vendor searches for GDF Suez's preliminary front-end engineering design," the organisation said.

"Discussions and scope vetting for FEED will begin soon, with approximately 100 work packages to be listed at the initial construction stage once the FEED has been awarded."

In April Bonaparte project general manager Jean-Francois Letellier confirmed to ENP that FEED would start in 2014 while the final investment decision was scheduled for 2015.

ICN's update also confirmed that first gas was still expected in 2019 and the scope of producing 2.4 million tonnes per annum of LNG from the Timor Sea's Petrel, Tern and Frigate gas fields remained.

"GDF Suez estimates the project will add $45 billion to Australia's gross domestic product over its 25-year life," ICN said.

Outside of the FEED contract and initial 100 work packages, ICN said additional work for the FLNG, drilling campaign and support services would be listed on the dedicated website, bonapartelng.icn.org.au, as the project progressed.

Located 250km west of Darwin in the Bonaparte Basin, with the FLNG vessel expected to be moored in offshore Western Australia, the GDF and Santos-owned project (60:40) received federal environmental approval about 18 months ago.

Pre-FEED studies date back to early 2011 with GDF previously flagging that the FEED contract was a contest between an alliance of Kellogg Brown & Root and Hyundai Heavy Industries and a Technip and Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering venture.

Last year GDF awarded Wood Group Kenny a pre-FEED phase subsea concept definition study contract for the Bonaparte project, with the proposed FLNG vessel envisioned to be 400m long and 70m wide at the time.