Setting up Sourcing
Sourcing setup
Sourcing setup controls negotiations, invitations, responses, scoring, and awards. Configure negotiation styles and templates, requirements and attributes, scoring models, approval rules, and sourcing project defaults. A style controls behavior such as sealed bidding or reverse auction; a template pre-populates content.
Negotiation lifecycle
Create a negotiation from a template, add requirements, invite suppliers, open and close responses, score, and award. Awards can create agreements or purchase orders depending on setup. Approval rules should cover award and negotiation changes. Supplier qualification status can gate invitations or awards when integrated.
Worked example
A buyer runs a sealed-bid negotiation for office supplies. Create a style with sealed responses and a template with cost and delivery requirements. Invite three qualified suppliers, close responses, score, and award to the best value. If responses are visible before close, the style is not sealed or the role has premature access. Confirm award approval before publishing the result.
Traps
Do not confuse a template with a style. Do not change scoring after responses are opened without a controlled process. Do not assume award approval uses purchasing approval rules.