ABSTRACT
A satisfactory contract between the supplier and the library is essential to the future operational success of the library system. Companies may be sent a formal invitation to tender, from which point the cost and contract conditions become all-important. In addition to the protection afforded by maintenance agreements, the library should make arrangements for the system to be insured. The most common technique used to assist in the evaluation process is ‘weighted scoring’ where points are awarded to each feature being evaluated. When the evaluation process is complete, a report must be prepared which fully documents the evaluation exercise and gives a clear recommendation. Suppliers may even make fundamental changes to their proposal if they think that the final contract depends on it. The process of drawing up a memorandum of agreement may, however, be by-passed and the relevant steps included instead at the contract stage.
