Output specification
Capital Works Management Framework, Guidance Note, Glossary, Published by the Government of Ireland Department of Finance in 2009 suggests an output specification: ‘… is a specification that states the scope of the project in output terms and explains what is expected and when; it sets out clearly and unambiguously any perceived problems that still require resolution. It focuses on what the Sponsoring Agency wants to achieve with the project, and is based on the sixteen project parameters used for project definition. All information required for the realisation of optimal designs, within budget, should be defined and provided as clearly and efficiently as possible at this stage. Issues, assumptions and relevant research gathered for earlier studies should be clearly presented.’
The Supplier Journey provides guidance on how to bid for public sector contracts in Scotland. It defines output specification as: ‘The specification requirements set out in terms of what you want to achieve, leaving the tenderers to decide on how they will deliver those requirements. This can lead to innovation by the tenderers. The services detailed in the output specification should be capable of objective assessment so that the performance of the supplier can be accurately monitored.’
See also: Output-based specification.
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