Contracts and suppliers training

For

People who manage contracts as part of their job, especially those new to it or needing a refresher.

Participants can

• Explain the contract management framework and how value is created or lost.
• Define the contract manager's role alongside other stakeholders.
• Apply a value risk approach and prepare a contract management plan.

Format

Led by a facilitator for your team, in person or live online.

Covers

Reading contracts and key clauses, The value risk matrix, The contract management plan, Kick-off meetings, KPIs and monitoring, Contract close-out and lessons learned

For

People new to a commercial role, or anyone who needs to understand the law behind commercial contracts.

Participants can

• List the essential elements needed to form a contract under Australian law.
• Distinguish conditions, warranties, express and implied terms and explain their significance.
• Explain the remedies for breach, including liquidated damages and termination.

Format

Led by a facilitator for your team, in person or live online.

Covers

Offer, acceptance and consideration, The battle of the forms, Types of contract terms, Breach of contract and liquidated damages, Termination, including termination for convenience

For

People responsible for setting performance measures such as KPIs and service levels, and for writing contract management plans.

Participants can

• Develop KPIs that are relevant to the outcomes the contract must deliver.
• Build a contract management plan matched to the contract's risk, value and complexity.
• Manage a contract in line with its contract management plan.

Format

Led by a facilitator for your team, in person or live online.

Covers

Value risk matrix and planning, KPIs and KPI reporting, Savings and benefits tracking, Escalation and alternatives to litigation, Variations, extensions and transition management

Learning on your own? This is also a self-paced online course: Intermediate Contract Management, online.

For

Managers responsible for contract management after award, including contract managers and others who oversee provider performance.

Participants can

• Design a contract management plan that matches the category and the contract.
• Write performance standards and KPIs linked to key contractual deliverables.
• Manage variations so the plan keeps pace with changes to the contract.

Format

Led by a facilitator for your team, in person or live online.

Covers

Types of agreement, from MOUs to SLAs, Obligations versus expectations, Structure and content of an SLA, KPIs, metrics and SMART measures, Incentives and pricing models

Learning on your own? This is also a self-paced online course: Developing SLAs and KPIs, online.

For

Contract managers and people who set up contracts with suppliers, especially those new to the role or needing a refresher.

Participants can

• Relate the principles of contract formation to your procurement process.
• Judge when poor performance becomes a breach and give the supplier notice.
• Describe ways to resolve disputes other than litigation or termination.

Format

Led by a facilitator for your team, in person or live online.

Covers

Offer, acceptance and variation by conduct, Bid documents, letters of intent and MOUs, Conditions, warranties and implied terms, Remedies for breach of contract, Escalation and dispute resolution

For

Anyone involved in procurement, particularly in federal, state and local government and not-for-profit organisations.

Participants can

• Identify probity pitfalls at each stage of the procurement process.
• Recognise and manage conflicts of interest in procurement.
• Respond to probity issues as they arise and keep a clear paper trail.

Format

Led by a facilitator for your team, in person or live online.

Covers

Probity versus process, Conflict of interest, Documentation and the paper trail, Probity advice and probity audits, When things go wrong

For

Category managers, sourcing advisors and contract managers, already experienced in contract management, who manage strategic suppliers or contracts.

Participants can

• Segment suppliers and focus effort in proportion to risk, value and complexity.
• Engage suppliers in joint improvement programs linked to contract goals.
• Build a contract performance dashboard of metrics and KPIs.

Format

Led by a facilitator for your team, in person or live online.

Covers

Segmenting supplier relationships, Joint improvement programs, Baselining and target setting, Performance reviews and feedback, Escalation and commercial remedies

For

Managers responsible for outcomes delivered by suppliers who want to lift the performance of selected suppliers.

Participants can

• Select suppliers for improvement and enrol them in a structured program.
• Agree performance measures and baseline current performance with the supplier.
• Decide when to support, escalate or terminate, with contingency plans ready.

Format

Led by a facilitator for your team: two days in person, or 4 x 4-hour live online sessions.

Covers

Selecting candidates for improvement, Governance and executive sponsorship, Measures, baselines and targets, Commercial and contractual motivators, Root cause analysis

Learning on your own? This is also a self-paced online course: Supplier Performance Management, online.

For

Contract managers with some experience who manage complex, high-value or high-risk contracts.

Participants can

• Recognise and respond to key challenges in managing contracts.
• Manage cost and supplier performance so outcomes match expectations.
• Handle variations, close-out and early signs of fraud or malpractice.

Format

Led by a facilitator for your team: two days in person, or 4 x 4-hour live online sessions.

Covers

Setting and using KPIs, Negotiation and influencing, Total cost and benefit tracking, Managing variations and close-out, Fraud red flags and controls

For

People managing outcome-based agreements who already have some familiarity with results based accountability.

Participants can

• Build working relationships with providers based on trust and collaboration.
• Manage provider performance against the measures and reward triggers in the contract.
• Run review meetings and deal with performance variations and disputes.

Format

Led by a facilitator for your team, in person or live online.

Covers

Why outcome-based relationships differ, Performance measures and reward triggers, Payment and remuneration mechanisms, Continuous improvement and new IP, Issue resolution and recovery plans

For

Managers of high-value or high-risk contracts who already have a grounding in contract management.

Participants can

• Choose a contracting approach that secures co-operation or shares risk with the contractor.
• Write service specifications that define scope and quality standards.
• Identify where performance-based contracts fit in your contract portfolio.

Format

Led by a facilitator for your team: two days in person, or 4 x 4-hour live online sessions.

Covers

Early contractor involvement, Co-operative contracting and partnering charters, Reducing complexity with Cynefin, Detecting fraud and collusion, Performance-based contracting

For

Managers with a working knowledge of contract law who want to handle wider risk and commercial contracting issues.

Participants can

• Design and negotiate liability, indemnity and warranty clauses for your organisation.
• Decide when to use informal or formal remedies, including liquidated damages.
• Relate the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 to procurement practice.

Format

Led by a facilitator for your team: two days in person, or 4 x 4-hour live online sessions.

Covers

Creating a legally enforceable contract, Exclusions, indemnities and capped liability, Rules of contract interpretation, Insurance, IP and the PPSA, Working with internal and external lawyers

For

Senior managers responsible for supplier policy or a portfolio of suppliers who want to build on existing capability.

Participants can

• Segment suppliers into the most appropriate relationship types across the portfolio.
• Set up joint cost and value initiatives with the right governance.
• Distinguish supplier performance management from supplier development and plan each.

Format

Led by a facilitator for your team: two days in person, or 4 x 4-hour live online sessions.

Covers

Segmenting the supply base, Joint cost and value initiatives, Customer of choice and 180 degree feedback, Supplier development and market making, Supplier relationship plans