Course overview
Public sector contracts must deliver services, works and supplies while meeting duties of transparency, fairness, value for money, auditability and proper use of public funds. Once a contract is awarded, weak governance can lead to uncontrolled changes, missed milestones, unsupported payments, supplier underperformance, disputes and findings from internal audit or external oversight bodies. Contract managers need a disciplined way to convert award commitments into managed delivery.
This course develops the practical controls used from mobilisation through closeout. Participants examine contract governance, contract documentation, performance measurement, supplier meetings, payment assurance, change control, risk management, records, disputes, extensions and closeout. They apply public sector principles including accountability, equal treatment, conflict management, information rights and evidence-based decision-making. The course also addresses common contract forms, including NEC4 and FIDIC, while keeping the methods applicable to local public procurement rules and organisational procedures.
Teaching combines focused instructor briefings with realistic cases involving construction works, outsourced facilities management, technology services and social-service delivery. Participants build contract management artefacts during the first week, then test and improve them through scenarios involving performance failure, variations, claims and audit review. They leave with a completed contract management pack, including governance arrangements, a performance framework, risk register, change-control process, supplier meeting structure and closeout plan.
The course suits professionals who already work with public contracts and need stronger control over post-award delivery. It is particularly relevant where contracts carry high public visibility, complex supplier dependencies, grant funding conditions or strict reporting requirements.