BlogProject delivery
Procurement for ICT projects: specifying outcomes
By Kennedy Ougo, Senior ICT Consultant 1 min read
Specify the result you need and how it will be tested — not only an equipment list — to get comparable, accountable bids.
How you procure decides who delivers the project and what they are accountable for.
Describe the outcome
"Wi-Fi coverage in all listed rooms, verified by survey, supporting the expected number of users" leads to better proposals than "supply 20 access points". Bidders can then propose designs and take responsibility for results.
Include installation, testing and documentation
Specify commissioning, test reports, as-built documentation and training as deliverables.
Define support and warranty
Ask for warranty terms, response times, spares and the cost of ongoing support.
Ask for relevant evidence
Request descriptions of comparable work and references, and the qualifications of the team.
Evaluate on clear criteria
Publish how proposals will be scored — technical approach, experience, support and price — and apply it consistently.
Handle questions openly
Share questions and answers with all bidders so everyone bids on the same information.
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About the author
Kennedy Ougo
Senior ICT Consultant
Kennedy Ougo writes about ICT project delivery, equipment deployment and intelligent transport systems.