Better practice entities will also incorporate quality assurance reviews of contracting activities into their control environments.

Periodic reviews of all or selected aspects of their contracting can assist entities in assessing the extent to which their performance represents better practice and are a useful mechanism for identifying procedures and practices that warrant improvement. Quality assurance reviews may include the following:

•  audits and/or evaluations of the efficiency, effectiveness or appropriateness of the contracting arrangements;

•  spot checks of staff understanding of, and compliance with, entity contracting policies and procedures;

•  peer review of selected aspects of contracting, for example contract deliverables, performance management regime or contract management plans;

•  self assessment checklists; and

•  analysis of existing contracting performance data (for example, comparing the performance of different divisions or programs).

Agencies should determine whether quality assurance activity is best undertaken in-house, including by internal audit units, by external parties or by a combination of both approaches.

Better practice entities will also incorporate quality assurance reviews of contracting activities into their control environments.