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8.7 External Consultancy Business Cases

8.7.1All proposals for the use of external consultants must be justified by a suitable business case. There are specific requirements for these business cases, as currently stated in FD(DFP)07/12. (See section 5 of the attachment to this FD letter). This requires a full, but proportionate, business case to be completed for all external consultancy contracts expected to cost in total £10,000 or over.
8.7.2

The business case should cover the following issues:

  1. The purpose of the assignment.
  2. A reasoned assessment of the alternatives to external resources, and particularly the justification for using External Consultants. Where it is decided not to use internal consultants a full explanation must be provided for this decision.
  3. The immediate and long-term outputs and benefits expected from the External Consultancy resources, when they are likely to accrue and how they will be measured.
  4. The proposed project management arrangements, including management of deliverables, expectations and risks.
  5. The means by which skills/expertise will be transferred to ‘in-house’ staff and/or internal consultants if appropriate. If not appropriate, the business case should state the reasons why it is not appropriate.
  6. The proposed division of work between the External Consultants and any ‘in-house’ staff and/or internal consultants who will be assisting them.
  7. The expected costs of both the external and the ‘in-house’ effort.
  8. The performance review arrangements.
  9. How the results of the External Consultancy will be implemented and monitored.
  10. Any other considerations specific to the assignment.

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