Summary

Select suppliers based on an evaluation of their ability to meet the specified requirements and established criteria.

Description

SSD Addition
Refer to the Service System Development process area for more information about developing and analyzing stakeholder requirements.


Refer to the Decision Analysis and Resolution (DAR) (CMMI-SVC) process area for more information about analyzing possible decisions using a formal evaluation process that evaluates identified alternatives against established criteria.


Criteria should be established to address factors that are important to the work.

 

Examples of factors that can be important to the work include the following:
  • Geographical location of the supplier
  • Supplier’s performance records on similar work
  • Engineering capabilities
  • Staff and facilities available to perform the work
  • Prior experience in similar situations
  • Customer satisfaction with similar products delivered by the supplier


Example Work Products



  1. Market studies
  2. List of candidate suppliers
  3. Preferred supplier list
  4. Trade study or other record of evaluation criteria, advantages and disadvantages of candidate suppliers, and rationale for selection of suppliers
  5. Solicitation materials and requirements


Subpractices



1. Establish and document criteria for evaluating potential suppliers.

2. Identify potential suppliers and distribute solicitation material and requirements to them.

A proactive manner of performing this activity is to conduct market research to identify potential sources of candidate products to be acquired.



3. Evaluate proposals according to evaluation criteria.

4. Evaluate risks associated with each proposed supplier.

Refer to the Risk Management (RSKM) (CMMI-SVC) process area for more information about identifying and analyzing risks.



5. Evaluate proposed suppliers’ abilities to perform the work.

 

Examples of methods used to evaluate the proposed supplier’s abilities to perform the work include the following:
  • Evaluation of prior experience in similar applications
  • Evaluation of customer satisfaction with similar products provided
  • Evaluation of prior performance on similar work
  • Evaluation of management capabilities
  • Capability evaluations
  • Evaluation of staff available to perform the work
  • Evaluation of available facilities and resources
  • Evaluation of the work group's ability to work with the proposed supplier
  • Evaluation of the impact of candidate COTS products on the work plan and commitments


 

When modified COTS products are being evaluated, consider the following:
  • Cost of the modified COTS products
  • Cost and effort to incorporate the modified COTS products into the work
  • Security requirements
  • Benefits and impacts that can result from future product releases


Future releases of the modified COTS product can provide additional features that support planned or anticipated enhancements for the work, but can result in the supplier discontinuing support of its current release.



6. Select the supplier.