We recommend that all clients seek independent advice on how to obtain the best from professional services before inviting tenders or approaching possible suppliers. The NAO and Office of Government Commerce (OGC) have both published useful advice on buying consultancy that is worthwhile referring to.
NAO Guidance
The NAO guidance comprises a consultancy assessment toolkit which can be used either to test how well an organisation as a whole uses consultants or for individual assignments:
OGC Guidance
The OGC guidance covers the development of business cases and the pricing of consultancy:
A useful book is Buying Professional Services by Fiona Czerniawska and Peter Smith. It provides an overview of the professional services market and guides you through the process of choosing, contracting with and managing a supplier.
We are a framework supplier to a number of organisations including the Home Office, Audit Commission, Cabinet Office and Health Protection Agency. We also work with clients via the MCAS frameworks offered by Buying Solutions and through the OJEC process. For further advice about contracting with us please don’t hesitate to get in contact.