Actively managing contracts is one of the key tools in the toolbox for governments working towards procurement excellence. For many busy staff, it's tempting to focus on the compliance-related aspects of contracting processes: making sure insurance certificates are up to date, for example, or checking if vendors have submitted invoices on time, and then simply signing off on payment. The assumption behind this approach to procurement is that because you've hired such a qualified vendor, they'll be able to meet your objectives without any significant oversight on your part.
But active contract management shifts the focus from compliance-related tasks to helping procurement staff understand how effectively vendors are meeting goals described in the RFP and enabling contract managers to work collaboratively with vendors to meet those goals. This short exercise helps staff quickly and easily understand some of the benefits of active contract management and is meant to be used in conjunction with comprehensive training.
