The use of competitive dialogue as a procurement procedure has gathered momentum since the introduction of the 2006 Consolidated Procurement Directive, but the procedure has been used with varying degrees of success.

This Skills Training event looks at current guidance for undertaking a competitive dialogue along with examples of issues which have arisen since the procedure was introduced, and considers the likely implications of getting it wrong, including the rights extended to contractors to challenge under the Remedies Directive.

The Competitive Dialogue Skills Training event looks at the various stages of this complex process, including:

• early market engagement
• the OJEU process
• evaluation of PQQs
• invitation to participate in dialogue
• the dialogue phase
• calls for final tenders
• best and final offers
• the preferred bidder stage

The complexities of competitive dialogue entail that this procedure is not only time-consuming but extremely expensive to undertake.

A failed competitive dialogue can cost an authority millions of pounds and see a project put back years.

To assist in understanding the complexities, this Skills Training event focuses on three case studies from previously completed competitive dialogue exercises, including one from the bidders’ perspective.