It is always difficult when vendor performance on a contract starts going south. The signs are often small at first, a missed deadline, a work product that just isn’t quite what you were expecting, a meeting with stakeholders that does not work out as planned. Then the issues become bigger – multiple missed deadlines, incompleteRead… Read more »
Cancelling a contract is a drastic step, but sometimes it has to be done. The agency has expended time and money with the vendor for a particular product and things just are not working out. Remedial steps of having regular status meetings with the vendor, amending the contract and making specific work plans to addressRead… Read more »
This past Thursday I participated in the GovLoop webinar about Individual Development Plans (IDPs). I work for a unit of local government that does not require IDPs or anything similar so I was not familiar with the concept but I am interested in career advancement and so I thought it worth the hour. Kathleen FloraRead… Read more »
Once a contract is in place, there is a sense of relief and completion. If the service is being performed reasonably well, the contract can become a document that is rarely or never referenced again. Contract amendments are often not considered except at unavoidable points in the relationship such as time extensions, changes in scopeRead… Read more »
The next point about fostering a vendor relationship is to step back and to evaluate the relationship on a regular basis. Most vendor contracts allow for or even require regular interaction about the day to day activities of the contract. Operational issues come up often and are worked out. This contact and communication is anRead… Read more »
Managing risk in contracting is about taking the downside into account. Both the agency and the vendor need to have a healthy understanding of what the worst outcomes are for their respective sides and to write the contract to address those outcomes. What happens if the vendor is unable to provide the service? How canRead… Read more »
This series began discussing fostering relationships through contracting. This idea underpins all discussions about contracting because if you keep the relationship in mind while conducting contract negotiations, where both sides are heard and concerns are addressed, then there is a greater likelihood that the outcome will be beneficial to both parties. In the previous post,Read… Read more »
Writing contract specifications can seem daunting, boring or like a mere formality. Where should I start? What should I write? It is difficult to start with a blank piece of paper and to generate the specifications for a contract. If the service is existing, start by thinking through the day to day details of theRead… Read more »
It’s time again for you to write a contract. Your agency has the opportunity to work with a new consultant or will need a new contract for an on going service. You understand the importance of the service, but you hate the paperwork involved in the contracting process. This sentiment is common for government employeesRead… Read more »