Specification Writing
Skills and Development Programme

Specifying your requirements for goods, works and services correctly has an immense impact on things such as:

  • who bids for the opportunity

  • what they bid

  • what you pay

  • outcomes you achieve

  • risks that you may encounter

  • contract & stakeholder relationships

There are also other considerations such as improving the social, economic and environmental well-being of local communities (Social Value Act), stimulating markets and encouraging local businesses to bid for work.

This programme is designed to brief you on these issues and provide guidance and ideas for improving specification writing and development. There is also a surgery where you can start to build your own specification for a live requirement.

£1,250 fixed price, delivered on-site in an interactive, workshop style environment. Programme duration is one day and is available via SPS or via EELGA.

Who Should Attend

  • Senior managers from service departments who commission goods, works and services

  • Procurement staff who are involved in tender preparation and management

  • Any person responsible for specifying goods, works or services

The programme will help representatives:

  • Gain an insight into the legal requirements and the rules concerning specifications

  • Design specifications to attract more bidders and achieve better outcomes

  • Design method statements to get better information to support the evaluation process

  • Understand evaluation criteria and performance indicators

  • Practice their specification writing skills in a safe learning environment

The programme will help organisations:

  • Design better contracts and improved outcomes

  • Improve contractor responsiveness and relationships

  • Achieve a better field of bidders

  • Reduce the risk of legal challenges

  • Improve contractor relationships

The Programme

This programme is highly interactive and includes group working and a specification surgery.

The main part of the programme is split into two parts. The first covers the elements of the specification and the second, how specifications can be designed to feed into the evaluation of the tender responses and the contract and relationship management strategy.

This will be followed by a specification surgery – participants are invited to bring along details of a new, planned specification for open discussion.

“Very helpful course which will assist me in preparing future tender specifications.”
— Mark Wilson, Energy Officer, Uttlesford District Council

SPS Contract & Relationship Management programmes are endorsed by World Commerce & Contracting.

World Commerce & Contracting is a not-for-profit association and the only global body promoting standards and raising capabilities in commercial practice. We inspire individuals and organisations through our research and ideas. We equip our members with knowledge and networks that support successful contracts and commercial relationships.