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Description

Procurement in Project Management: Scoping Work Packages, Contracting and Steering

Bringing the buyer into the project while genuine room for manoeuvre still exists

  • 2 days — 14 h
  • In-person or virtual
  • Intermediate
  • Up to 6 participants

Buyers are often involved far too late: the technical solution is frozen, the preferred supplier already identified and the schedule under pressure. All that remains is to negotiate a few discount points. Project managers, for their part, complain that procurement slows down the tendering process and overlooks technical constraints.

Two days to reconcile the two logics: identify the project milestones where procurement genuinely carries weight, build a sourcing strategy compatible with the schedule and organise the supplier relationship throughout the life of the project. A single case-study project runs through the programme, from scoping to final acceptance.

Learning objectives

  • Position the key procurement milestones within the project life cycle
  • Build a sourcing strategy compatible with the project schedule
  • Allocate roles between buyer, project manager and internal requester
  • Secure supplier commitments made during the project
  • Monitor cost and schedule variances attributable to suppliers

What makes this programme different

The programme follows a single case-study project from scoping through to acceptance
Role-plays genuinely pit a buyer against a project manager
A responsibility allocation matrix is built and tested during the session

Programme

1Two logics to reconcile

Understanding what each party is trying to protect

  • Identify the expectations of the project manager and those of the buyer
  • Pinpoint recurring friction points on projects
  • Position procurement involvement within the project life cycle
  • Measure the consequences of bringing procurement in too late

2Preparing the purchase from the scoping stage

Translating the project requirement into a sourcing strategy

  • Analyse the requirement with internal requesters without freezing it too early
  • Break the project down into work packages that can genuinely be sourced
  • Choose between a single supplier and multiple work packages
  • Align the tendering calendar with project milestones

3Tendering and contracting in project mode

Commitments that hold over time

  • Build a specification that can evolve without opening the door to scope creep
  • Embed acceptance milestones and liquidated damages in the tender
  • Handle scope changes during execution
  • Secure ownership of deliverables and exit arrangements

4Steering suppliers during the project

Monitoring without taking over from the project manager

  • Set up supplier reviews paced by project milestones
  • Track cost and schedule variances using shared indicators
  • Manage a supplier failure during execution
  • Capture lessons learned for future projects

Who is it for

Project buyers and project managers, as well as technical leads required to work with the procurement function on capital investment or development projects.

Prerequisites

Experience in a procurement function or in project management is required.

Dates & locations

36 scheduled dates between November 2026 and December 2027. Seats are confirmed in the order enquiries are received.

November 2026

December 2026

January 2027

February 2027

March 2027

April 2027

May 2027

June 2027

September 2027

October 2027

November 2027

December 2027

None of these dates suit you? We open additional sessions on request, and any programme can be run privately for your team.

Practical details

Before the programme
Online positioning questionnaire. Your development objectives are shared with the trainer, who tailors the practical case studies to your context.
Teaching methods
Theoretical input, workshops and practical case studies. Digital course materials and method sheets provided.
Assessment
Multiple-choice tests and role-play exercises. Assessment of learning at the start and end of the programme, with immediate and 60-day follow-up evaluations.
After the programme
One year of access to the e-learning platform. Self-assessment of the skills acquired and a 30-day follow-up session with your trainer.
How to register
Registration online or on the basis of a quotation.
Lead time
11 working days after confirmation of registration.
Accessibility
Accessible to people of determination. Contact our accessibility coordinator to design a suitable solution: contact@mpf-academy.ae
Start dates
Rolling intake: in addition to the scheduled sessions, this programme can start on request.