DEBRIEVING

Debriefing- is a process of (1) receiving an explanation, (2) receiving information and situationbased reminders of context. Debriefing of unsuccessful candidates in the tendering process must take place. It is a good practice to debrief unsuccessful tenderers.

Advantages of debriefing
1. Debriefing enables improvement of competitiveness of suppliers.
2. It enhances the reputation of the purchaser as fair, honest, ethical client who is deemed as a best practice purchaser.

Potential benefits for the buyer department or agency:

• It promotes better value for money in the long term.
• Identifies ways of improving the process for next time
• Suggests ways of improving communications
• Makes sure best practice and guidance is updated to reflect any relevant issues that have been highlighted
• Encourages better bids from those suppliers in future
• Gets closer to how that segment of the market is thinking (enhancing the intelligent customer role)
• Helps establish a reputation as a fair, open and ethical buyer with whom suppliers will want to do business in future.

Potential benefits for government and the wider public sector:

• Demonstrates commitment to good practice and openness
• Can contribute to intelligence gathering about the market and its segments
• Educates the market that the public sector is value-driven and not cost-driven.

Potential benefits for the supplier:

• May help companies to rethink their approach so that future bids are more successful
• Offers targeted guidance to new or smaller companies to improve their chances of doing business in the public sector
• Can provide reassurance about the process and their contribution or role (if not the actual result)
• Can provide a better understanding of what differentiates public sector procurement from the private.

Skills of the project team
The list below outlines other key skills that are required of a project team:

• Strategic partnering skills (e.g. cooperation with common goals)
• Relationship management skills
• Good communication/ influencing skills
• Facilitation skills
• Emotional intelligence
• Negotiation skills
• Risk management skills
• Knowledge of contract law (especially with regard to General Contract Terms & Conditions)