The SRS Strategic Sourcing Management (SSM ™) Practice assists public sector clients in identifying their true business needs, developing the most appropriate sourcing strategy and evaluation framework to meet those needs, and establishing the most effective framework for achieving flexible business relationships with strategic partners, suppliers and stakeholders.

 

SRS Strategic Sourcing offerings feature advanced methodologies, tools and professional services to source the right partners, services, solutions, or products and to mitigate the procurement & resulting contractual risks.

 

The SRS approach to Strategic Sourcing is founded on the following key “Guiding Principles” :

 

1.       Openness, fairness, transparency and process integrity so that the sourcing process and its outcome complies with Public Sector procurement policies, regulations and applicable trade agreements, and is capable of withstanding public scrutiny. This includes an integrated fairness management process supported by quality controls at each step of the procurement lifecycle.

 

2.       Achieve strategic objectives by doing the “right things” so that the right relationship is sourced under the right business arrangement. One that holds true year-after-year even when business priorities and circumstances change. This includes integrated dynamic governance and Continuous Alignment Processes.

 

SRS Professionals and Tools Will Help You Meet Your Objectives

Whether you are looking to source computer hardware or systems software, to contract a systems integrator or a professional services provider, or looking to establish a more complex Public-Private Partnership (P3 or PP-P ®) to implement Alternative Forms of Delivery (AFD), the SRS advanced tools and methodologies coupled with its multi-disciplinary team of experienced professionals will assist you in meeting your strategic sourcing objectives quickly and effectively, within the applicable regulatory and contractual framework, while providing a complete audit trail of evaluation and selection results. Additionally, our services will help you:

 

1.       Develop the right sourcing strategy

2.       Shorten the cycle to develop your project’s solicitation documentation

3.       Shorten the cycle of your evaluation and negotiation processes.

 

SRS Strategic Sourcing Process Procurement Planning Stage

The Planning Phase is designed to ensure that a clear, benefit realization driven blueprint is established. This stage is the most critical of the procurement lifecycle as it charts the road-map to the procuring entity’s desired destination. Using common “travelers” terms, this means getting to the right place safely, efficiently, enjoyably and directly.

 

Key elements of this stage may include:

1.       Validation, confirmation, or development of business case, which include the identification of business needs, objectives, anticipated benefits through engagement with and collaboration of stakeholders, end users, etc;

2.       If not already done, preliminary assessment of industry capabilities and offerings;

3.       Definition of the procurement scope and articulation of the most appropriate sourcing strategy;

4.       A realistic implementation plan that is based on experience and tailored to success;

5.       Convergence and buy-in of stakeholders.

Solicitation Development Stage

Guided by the desired benefits and armed with the road-map for achieving them, the implementation plan is executed. Based on the nature of the undertaking this may involve industry or public consultations and various forms of solicitations. This phase translates the blueprint into an actual solicitation supported by the required processes, quality controls and approvals, while keeping in mind, at the centre, the desired business objectives. Key elements of this stage include:

 

1.       Development of key requirements that map to the delivery of the desired objectives

2.       Subjecting the requirements to the SSM ™  Guiding Principles

3.       Issuance of draft & other consultation documentation

4.       Solicitation updates and finalizations

5.       Liaison among stakeholders throughout

Bidding Period Stage

SRS applies structured quality controls and process integrity checkpoints in collaboration with the key stakeholders throughout the solicitation process to ensure all requests and clarifications are dealt with promptly and accurately. Key elements of this stage include:

 

1.       Questions, answers & amendment management

2.       Assessment, internal stakeholder consultations and management briefings, as required

3.       Vendor conferences, where warranted

4.       Evaluation readiness activities

Evaluation Readiness Stage

One of the most critical stages that has always been subject to third party scrutiny (e.g. by Industry, internal audit, C.I.T.T., AIT, etc.) is the Evaluation Stage of the selection process. SRS has developed advanced proprietary tools and methodologies to facilitate the evaluation process while providing the necessary compliance checkpoints and audit trail to support contract award. The SRS “Strategic Procurement Evaluation Framework (SPEF ™)” is a world-class best practice for accounting and managing all aspects of the proposals evaluations. SPEF ™  provides a complete audit trail of evaluation and selection results. Key features include:

 

1.       Getting ready – what the department needs to do and be aware of to conduct the evaluation. From teams and members selections to the finest details in logistics;

2.       Evaluator readiness – making sure that everyone is ready, has in-depth understanding of their roles, obligations as well as the use of common process and tools;

3.       Evaluation materials, preparations and tools (including automated templates, record books, etc.).

Evaluation Stage

Evaluation is traditionally a difficult and lengthy process. But SPEF ™  has proven time-after-time that it takes the pain out of the evaluation process. SPEF ™  is a structured process for capturing the results, with ease and efficiency while embedding quality controls that deliver on the two SSM ™  Guiding Principles. Results and status reporting are real-time with a complete audit trail. With SPEF ™ , evaluators end up having a positive experience and complete the evaluation in record time. Key elements of this stage include:

 

1.       Evaluation Facilitation & Fairness Management

2.       SPEF ™  process guidance

3.       Executive briefing of results

4.       Debrief readiness

Negotiations & Contract Award Stage

Where applicable, as it may be when sourcing complex business solutions, collaborative outsourcing or partnering arrangements, SRS offers negotiation services that deliver the right business arrangement that will deliver measurable results. The “SRS Strategic Relationships Negotiation Process (SRNP ™)” is an advanced methodology and a collaborative process for negotiating complex business relationships.

Relationship Implementation Services

SRS offers a set of services to help you establish the appropriate dynamic Governance & Accountability framework, Alignment business processes and to operationalize your win-win relationship.