Emerging best practice

Clear business outcome agreed with the operational team at all levels of the organisation.

Clear criteria and measures linked to overall outcomes.

Work out how this will this be measured in the bid assessment.

Require and assess a method statement and team diagram.

Consider past performance to the extent procurement regulations allow. A procurement policy note requires organisations to: satisfy themselves that suppliers' recent performance is in line with requirements; ensure that selection criteria on past performance and related required information are specified in EU procurement notices; obtain and where necessary verify the information as part of applying selection criteria and pass on relevant information to the Crown Commercial Service.

Assess the risk of a bid not being delivered in line with the specification considering capabilities, ambition and innovation, dependencies and risk, and the supply chain.

Assess risks consistently through, for example, scenario testing.

Consider potential timing of cash flows.

Determine a minimum standard in advance, with bids below this not considered.

Use a realistic 'should cost' model and expectations to create thresholds of acceptability.