Local Government Contracting TREND. 8 Local Contracting Strategies You Will See.

Harvard Kennedy School’s Government Performance Lab has produced new book, the new Results-Driven Contracting Solutions Book

The book offers 8 startegies for local government contracting. Here’s where to begin:

  • COMMUNICATE. Clearly lay out  goals and/or problems to be solved
  • WORK WITH AND NOT AGAINST YOUR CONTRACTORS. Design the procurement to align contractor interests with achieving those goals.
  • NO HELICOPTER PARENTING BY CITIES PLEASE. Provide direction without being overly prescriptive.
  • ENCOURAGE COMPETITION. Engage the marketplace to understand vendor capabilities and leverage competition.
  • CONTRACT MANAGEMENT. Track progress toward contract goals.
  • INCENTIVIZE. Consider tying payment to performance.
  • LEARN FROM YOUR CONTRACTING EXPERIENCES.  Use performance data to make future procurement decisions and manage ongoing contracts.
  • THINK BROADLY. Strategically manage all key procurements and contracts.