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The benefits of a contractI am searching for benchmarks on the difference between spend managed through a contract against off-contract spend. Is there a rule of thumb to say if spend was via a contract you expect x per cent better value for money? 11 January 2012
Starting from scratchWhat do I need to consider  in the writing of a procurement policy or procedures' manual? 08 December 2011
Cooking up a new dealWhat are the key criteria to consider when  carrying out a catering contract tender? 10 November 2011
Avoiding costs when changing contractsI am migrating a number of small service contracts to one large facilities management contract. The contract terms state I could be liable for high termination costs if I cancel existing deals. What advice can you give? 06 October 2011
The real cost of changing vendorWhat costs do I need to be aware of when switching from one supplier to another? 08 September 2011
Calling in the SMEsDo you have any tips on how I can structure my tender to encourage the participation of small- to medium-sized businesses in the process? 11 August 2011
Sorting out software licensesWhat is your view on negotiating for software licenses? What is the best way to get a good deal? 14 July 2011
Put it in reverseHow should I fit reverse auctions into my organisation's overall procurement strategy? What factors will influence the outcome of a reverse auction? 09 June 2011
Assessing suppliers that double as distributorsI'm running a number of supplier appraisals and have hit a snag in that a few of our critical vendors are distributors. Which areas should I focus on in an assessment since they do not manufacture or own the design? 12 May 2011
Finding the appropriate cost modelOne of my suppliers prices cleaning on a cost per person basis. He knows how much each person costs within the business and applies this to cleaning. How would I calculate cost per person within our business? 14 April 2011
Room for manoeuvre in a monopolyWe are about to enter negotiations with a monopoly supplier. Can you suggest any ways in which we could win better terms? 17 March 2011
Challenging inertiaI have been asked to find cost savings from an incumbent supplier providing telecom hosting. There is little appetite internally to move this spend. How should I approach this? 17 February 2011
Controlling interestI am preparing a tender for a multi-site maintenance, repair and overhaul procurement and supply and need some tips, especially on putting in controls to monitor supply/usage and spend. 03 February 2011
How to plan recruitment spendWhat do I need to take into account when buying permanent and temporary recruitment? Is there any current or future legislation that is pertinent? 20 January 2011
Investing in e-sourcingWe are a medium-sized business with an annual spend of around £20 million. We want to invest in e-sourcing to cover spend analysis, RFx management, SRM, risk, etc. What should we look for to find the right solution and avoid large upfront investment? 06 January 2011
Looking at the risksWe are trying to come up with between three and five key risk indicators for our suppliers. Are there common identifiers that  are applicable to most suppliers? What should we look at? 09 December 2010
Bringing it all togetherI've been asked to write a process for creating synergy benefits via contract novation. I have never done this before. Can you give me a guide of the steps this should involve? 25 November 2010
Presenting the factsWe are looking to attract global suppliers to tender. What's the best way to position ourselves to do this? 11 November 2010
Streamline decision-makingOur business has a long-winded and low-threshold sign-off process. How can I convince bosses this can be done faster and more efficiently, while retaining oversight and control? 28 October 2010
Put direct spend through its pacesWhat are your thoughts on applying a formal tendering process to direct spend? I think it is a tool for indirect spend and we should proceed carefully. What should we be aware of? 12 October 2010
A polished cleaning proposalI have been asked to investigate outsourcing the cleaning service within my organisation. Could you advise how I would go about doing so while ensuring that I get value for money? 30 September 2010
Presenting the factsIf customers want a presentation stage worth 30 per cent of the invitation to tender, what is recommended and within the rules? 16 September 2010
The point of no returnI have noticed on a quote from a supplier that the product cannot be cancelled or returned. Is this legal? Surely this contravenes the Sale of Goods Act or the Distance Selling Regulations. 02 September 2010
Speculate to innovateWe would like to encourage innovation among our suppliers, developing new products and services together. What is the best way to achieve this and what are the potential pitfalls? Senior buyer, Southampton 05 August 2010
It's time to pop the questionWe have dealt with suppliers on an informal basis for more than six years. I have recommended to the company we sign formal deals with them. How can I do this without harming our relationship? Purchasing manager, Cheshire 22 July 2010

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