Procurement Sourcing Archives - Keystone Procurement

How does light touch procurement work in the EU?

What is Light Touch Procurement? Light touch procurement is a simplified and less formalised procurement process that is used for certain specific types of contracts in the European Union. This concept was introduced in the Public Procurement Directive 2014/24/EU, which sets out the rules and procedures for public procurement in…

Ross McCarthy13th October 2023

Procurement Sourcing

How to run a tender process to buy goods

Buying goods can be deceptive. On the one hand, it is relatively easy to buy goods. You source the goods, you pay for them and you hopefully get the right items, at the right time, in the right place, at the right quality and price (the five rights). This is…

Ross McCarthy18th August 2023

Procurement Sourcing

Using z-score models to assist financial due diligence

The use of Z-score models can help you to evaluate the financial credibility of companies, whether they are buyers or suppliers. Completing such risk assessments is of particular importance for your company, especially if your revenue earning capabilities is dependent on a limited number of buyers or suppliers. In addition,…

Ross McCarthy4th July 2023

Procurement Sourcing

Overview of what the EU CSD Directive means for businesses

The European Union Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (EU CSD Directive) represents a significant milestone in the realm of corporate social responsibility and sustainable business practices. The directive, proposed by the European Commission, aims to enhance the accountability of companies and strengthen their obligations regarding environmental and human rights impacts…

Ross McCarthy8th June 2023

Procurement Sourcing

Key considerations when buying from overseas suppliers

We work with clients regularly to help them source from near and far shore overseas suppliers. Whether a company is sourcing from the southern mediterranean, far east Asia (from a European point of view) or from another place, caution is advised. How to vet overseas suppliers Overseas suppliers should be…

Ross McCarthy2nd May 2023

modern slavery remains a challenge in supply chains

Procurement Sourcing

BITTER TRUTHS – MODERN SLAVERY AND THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19

Slavery in the modern supply chain system We have written frequently about the risks of slavery in supply chains since we started as a company in 2014. Modern slavery is a very real issue. Globally, it is estimated that some 40m people are enslaved or subject to forced labour conditions.…

Ross McCarthy13th May 2021

Procurement Sourcing

EORI registration required Post-BREXIT

Below, we outline the importance of EORI registration. It will help those trading goods to operate normally post-Brexit. What is an EORI number? EORI stands for Economic Operators Registration and Identification number and it is a unique identification number. It allows European Union (EU) based companies to trade goods with…

Ross McCarthy1st October 2019

Procurement Sourcing

How to get suppliers to bid – techniques to increase supply options

We are often asked how supply options can be improved by clients in the public and private sector. Below, we lay out some of our thoughts on how businesses can get suppliers to bid. Get suppliers to bid - be clear in your demands The number one complaint suppliers have…

Ross McCarthy11th July 2019

Procurement Sourcing

Specification and Selection of IT Systems

Enterprise level IT systems require money and time to deliver. They can also impact how employees do their job. So how can you go about procuring the right IT system? We think a structured approach is best. The first step is system specification and selection. Specification and Selection This is our approach for IT…

Donnacha Phelan14th February 2019

Procurement Sourcing

Can approaches to contract management solve hospital overcrowding?

In this post, we examine a report on public procurement in the National Health Service in the UK. It focuses on bed occupancy and how contract management techniques can be used to improve efficiency. We also look at what they could mean for public procurement contracts in Ireland. *** The…

Ross McCarthy19th September 2018