Emerging best practice

Ensure contracts are clear on contract-end options and timings, for example the right to terminate (which is valuable and should not be traded away unless the benefits received outweigh the loss incurred).

Ensure contracts are clear on transition responsibilities, with detailed timings and definitions of what should be delivered. Also, allow for modification/expansion of transition arrangements through agreed contract review processes.

Consider the risks of failure and different approaches to the end of the contract.

Put in place contingency plans from early in the contract.

Ensure there are sufficient means to incentivise the supplier to maintain resources and performance right up to the end of the contract.

Work out the information suppliers will need for transition, eg information on costs and service volumes and asset registers.

Set out how bidders will have sight of all information they require from the incumbent supplier.

Allow enough time and resources for looking at lessons learned from the contract.

Follow a standard process for lessons to feed into future work.