Emerging best practice

Take time

Engage

Consider

Use

Start planning before the procurement options are put together, and update plans continually through the lifetime of a contract. The time needed to develop commercial strategies will vary, but it is often necessary to allow a year or more for the more complex contracts.

To understand possibilities and risks, engage with:

•  the market, to discuss appetite, feasibility and options;

•  operational and business teams, to understand early on what is wanted and what would work.

Based on the information gathered through engaging with markets, users and stakeholders consider all the commercial options and decide which option best fits the business objectives. The options appraisal should be documented. See properly develop strategy for what to consider.

Use the agreed strategy to shape the approach, contract and relationship. Be clear about what the contract is and is not trying to achieve.