Evaluating a new contractor: What you need to know  

Altius Exigo is a supply chain management and performance tool, which has been designed to simplify the process of evaluating new contractors.

The system focuses on three areas of assessment: capability, management, and monitoring.

Judging capability

When determining a contractor’s capability, project managers should be clear on the information they need to request from them, based on the work that they will be expected to carry out.

They should make it easy for contractors to submit information, and use closed questions for clarity.

Project managers should also take care to get verification of the contractor’s industry certifications and regulatory paperwork, to ensure that they are capable to work on the project in question.

Altius recommends using an IT system to collate this information; managers should also make a point of keeping records of any certification expiry dates to ensure business protection.

Altius Exigo, compliance software for contractor assessment and management

Contractor management

The ongoing management of contractors is required to ensure that contractual compliance is adhered to.

Project managers should give new and existing suppliers the relevant policy, rules and specifications to help them stay compliant. Altius recommends creating policies that offer clear explanations as to what is expected of contractors; these should be communicated regularly so contractors are familiar with them.

It is also important to communicate clearly, explaining to contractors what they should deliver and what they should not be doing. Project managers should take care to cover everything, from the timescales of the work, to the behaviour expected from members of staff.

Project managers are responsible for making sure contractors understand these rules before they start work. They should keep a record stating that they have agreed to them. 

Monitoring contractors

Altius is encouraging project managers to implement a system to monitor their contractors’ progress, and check that they are meeting targets and abiding to any contractual agreements. 

This can be in the form of an audit, which will assist in identifying areas for improvement and assessing performance.

Project managers should observe contractors whilst they are working, and give feedback, praise and words of encouragement. They can also use KPIs to provide routine feedback and assess trends in work patterns over time. These results should be shared with contractors so they understand where, and how, they can improve.

Find out more about Altius’ compliance software for contractor assessment and management

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Phone: 01332 960320
Email: [email protected]

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