Competitive Dialogue is an ideal route for you, as an authority, to select a perfect solution from a perfect contractor. But it is not without its risks.
Dialogue allows the authority and bidders to engage in two way discussions regarding their needs and the solutions that will meet them. If you have an enthusiastic team, they will enjoy discussing the fine detail of the situation, the problem and the solution. Therein lays the problem. Enthusiastic people enjoy being helpful and finding ways to fix things.
Competitive Dialogue must be conducted fairly and openly, giving equal treatment to all contenders. Bidders will use the process to gain competitive advantage over other bidders and may take advantage of individuals in the team to glean privileged information about their own progress, the progress of other bidders – or information about other bidders’ solutions. A single slip could expose the authority to legal challenge for improper process, or worse still, litigation for breaches of commercial confidences.
All staff coming in contact with technical or commercial information about a Competitive Dialogue project should be fully briefed and fully put on notice of their responsibilities to the authority. Ideally, this should be done as soon as the team is first assembled, and each time a new member joins the team.
Byford Consultants can provide a comprehensive and detailed briefing for your team, along with all the informative and guidance notes required to see them through to successful completion of the project. Delivered in an entertaining and memorable way, it will also assurance the team that it has the protection of sound protocols to support them in their role, without worrying about inadvertently stepping out of line.
Each briefing is customised to the context and circumstances of the specific project and materials licensed for use with new team members.
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