An important element in the establishment and ongoing administration of any panel arrangement is ensuring clear, consistent and regular communication between the entity (including panel users), and the panel suppliers. Key elements of communication include:

•  ensuring users are aware of the existence of the panel, for example by promoting the panel through the entity intranet site, and where appropriate, through written advice to portfolio or other entities92;

•  clarifying and ensuring suppliers' understanding of their obligations under the deed of standing offer and supporting arrangements. This may be facilitated through the scheduling and conduct of briefing sessions with suppliers, especially at panel commencement;

•  managing supplier expectations and resource availability, for example through routine advice on anticipated work flows and potential opportunities under the panel. This may entail the conduct of periodic briefing sessions or the provision of forward work plans for the panel. It is also beneficial to advise suppliers of changes in the business environment and any related impact on the expected use of the panel;

•  making transparent to suppliers and users the process for selecting panel members, including any competitive quoting process, as well as how supplier performance in delivering goods or services will be monitored and reported;

•  advising panel users and suppliers of changes to the deed of standing offer or supporting arrangements. This may include, for example, notification to users of a change in a supplier's specified personnel or contact information, communication to users and suppliers of the result of any required review of rates, or extension of the use of the panel to other entities;

•  providing formal or informal feedback to both panel users and suppliers on supplier performance in delivering contracts; and

•  responding to routine enquiries about the panel from users or suppliers.

The development and implementation of a communication strategy may be a useful tool to support the delivery of consistent, clear and regular communication between the entity and suppliers.

The development and implementation of a communication strategy may be a useful tool to support the delivery of consistent, clear and regular communication between the entity (including users) and suppliers.