It is important that a buyer carries out an appropriate level of due diligence early in the process to identify risks or opportunities associated with the products, services or works to be procured. All relevant internal stakeholders should be involved in this early consideration, e.g. heads of service, budget holders, finance, specifiers, end users and others.
Many sustainability benefits can be achieved through supplier engagement before the procurement process begins which is essential to allow the market to understand and prepare their response to tender requirements.
