Before appointing any external adviser, proponents must ensure that there are no existing or potential conflicts of interest. Proponents should also obtain adequate confidentiality undertakings from external advisers to the effect that any information available to them during the procurement process will not be used in the context of any other exercise (e.g., assistance to a potential bidder for the main contract in a subsequent competition).
It is important when selecting advisers to give them as much information as is reasonable, and to define roles and tasks as clearly as possible. This information needs to cover the nature of the assistance sought in terms of advice, support, review and responsibility for the process.