Procurement and MaterialsSpecification Writing for Procurement
A specification is the only place where an organisation says what it actually wants, and a poor one produces compliant bids for the wrong thing, disputes during delivery and a supplier who is technically right. This course covers writing good ones. Delegates work through the difference between a conformance specification and a performance specification and when each is appropriate, defining requirements without inadvertently naming a single supplier, and the standards and testing that make a requirement verifiable. Acceptance criteria and the evidence of compliance are covered. Over specification and its cost are addressed directly. Involving technical users without letting them design a solution follows. The course closes on reviewing a specification before it goes to market.
Course objectives
- Choose between conformance and performance specification
- Define requirements without inadvertently naming one supplier
- Reference standards and testing so requirements are verifiable
- Set acceptance criteria and the evidence of compliance
- Recognise and remove over specification and its cost
- Involve technical users without letting them design the solution
- Review a specification before it goes to market
Who should attend
- Buyers and procurement officers
- Technical and engineering staff writing requirements
- Contract and tender administrators
- Public sector procurement practitioners
- Quality staff verifying delivered goods
Course outline
- 01Compliant bids for the wrong thing
- 02Conformance against performance specification
- 03Defining requirements neutrally
- 04Standards, testing and verifiability
- 05Acceptance criteria and evidence
- 06Over specification and its cost
- 07Working with technical users
- 08Review before going to market
Scheduled sessions
| Dates | Venue | Format | Price | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 to 30 September 2026 | Mbabane, Eswatini | Classroom | R14,950 per delegate | Register Now |
| 25 to 27 November 2026 | Online | Online | R6,500 per delegate | Register Now |
| 14 to 16 December 2026 | Pretoria, South Africa | Classroom | R14,950 per delegate | Register Now |