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Guidance

The Sourcing Playbook

Key policies and guidance for making sourcing decisions for the delivery of public services

Updates to this page

From:
Government Commercial Agency and Government Commercial Function
Published:
20 May 2021
Last updated:
30 September 2026
Show all updates

  1. Replaced the Financial viability risk assessment tool

  2. Replaced the document: Financial viability risk assessment tool

  3. Updated with the lates version of the Financial viability risk assessment tool

  4. Replaced Financial viability risk assessment tool with latest version

  5. Update to the Financial Viability Risk Assessment tool with the latest version 6.2

  6. Updated the Financial Viability Risk Assessment tool with version 6.2

  7. Updated the Financial Viability Risk Assessment tool with version 6.1

  8. Replaced the documents with new versions: Assessing and monitoring the economic and financial standing of suppliers guidance note Risk Allocation and Pricing Approaches guidance note Corporate Financial Distress Guidance note Financial viability risk assessment tool

  9. Update to the Financial viability risk assessment tool

  10. Replaced the Financial viability risk assessment tool with the latest version.

  11. Replaced the Financial Viability Risk Assessment tool with a newer version.

  12. Updated the Financial Viability Risk Assessment tool with version 5.6

  13. Added a link to the document: Corporate Financial Distress Guidance note (PDF, 345KB)

  14. Replaced the Financial viability risk assessment tool with the latest version.

  15. Updated the Financial viability risk assessment tool

  16. Added the documents: Using the Playbook in Conjunction with Framework Agreements, Assessing and monitoring the economic and financial standing of suppliers guidance note Updated the following documents: The Sourcing Playbook, Financial viability risk assessment tool

  17. Updated with the latest version of The Consultancy Playbook

  18. First published.

Documents

The Sourcing Playbook (PDF)

PDF, 3.11 MB, 78 pages

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The Sourcing Playbook (HTML)

HTML

Using the Playbook in Conjunction with Framework Agreements (PDF)

PDF, 214 KB, 8 pages

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Using the Playbook in Conjunction with Framework Agreements (HTML)

HTML

Should Cost Modelling guidance note

PDF, 439 KB, 24 pages

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Delivery model assessment guidance note

PDF, 1.17 MB, 32 pages

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Bid evaluation guidance note

PDF, 2.08 MB, 34 pages

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Assessing and monitoring the economic and financial standing of suppliers guidance note (PDF)

PDF, 1.22 MB, 66 pages

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Assessing and monitoring the Economic and Financial Standing of Suppliers guidance note (HTML)

HTML

Financial viability risk assessment tool

1.02 MB

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Benefits measurement guidance note

PDF, 293 KB, 8 pages

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Market management guidance note

PDF, 518 KB, 25 pages

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Approvals process guidance note

PDF, 217 KB, 5 pages

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Testing and piloting services guidance note

PDF, 1 MB, 33 pages

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Risk Allocation and Pricing Approaches guidance note (PDF)

PDF, 1.88 MB, 55 pages

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Risk Allocation and Pricing Approaches guidance note (HTML)

HTML

Competitive dialogue and competitive procedure with negotiation guidance note

PDF, 525 KB, 33 pages

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Resolution planning guidance note

PDF, 832 KB, 29 pages

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Corporate Financial Distress Guidance note (PDF)

PDF, 707 KB, 32 pages

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Corporate Financial Distress Guidance note (HTML)

HTML

Details

The Sourcing Playbook is the third annual update to the Outsourcing Playbook, capturing best practice from across government within 11 key policies that all central departments are expected to follow. The new Consultancy Playbook provides specific guidance on sourcing consultancy services.

Access ‘Should Cost Modelling: Tools and Templates’

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