Compare proposals when conditions change
Practical answer: Compare proposals when conditions change
Check the date and validity of every proposal. Use the same requirements and separate any exclusions or options. Ask suppliers to clarify uncertain delivery conditions. Treat the economic background as context; it does not establish whether a particular offer represents value or whether an organisation can afford it.
A proposal comparison can become stale even when its spreadsheet still looks complete. For February 2023, the practical question is whether the specifications, dates and assumptions in each offer are still current enough to support a decision.
Economic context
The RBA’s February 2023 overview described improving global supply chains while inflation, particularly for services, remained high. Read the RBA overview.
An illustrative example
Consider two offers received several weeks apart. One has a current delivery indication while the other relies on an earlier assumption. The reviewer requests an update before ranking them. The resulting comparison explains both the common requirement and the remaining uncertainties, so approval can be based on a consistent record.
Three points to take into the conversation
- Check offer dates
- Use one comparison basis
- Update uncertain assumptions
Before progressing the conversation, check that the purpose, current information, responsible contact and next review date are clear. For a corporate-information, supplier or partnership enquiry, contact EJN Services through its enquiry page.
The economic context comes from the report linked above. The process suggestions and examples are original editorial guidance, not RBA recommendations or records of EJN Services engagements.
