About This Course
Selecting the right vendors before a contract is awarded is one of the most consequential decisions any organisation makes. A poorly qualified supplier can expose an organisation to delivery failures, financial losses, reputational damage, and legal liability. Yet many organisations still rely on informal or inconsistent processes when assessing and onboarding vendors — leaving them vulnerable to risks that could have been identified and mitigated at the outset.
The Vendor Pre-qualification and Management Training programme offered by TrainingComplex is designed to close this gap. Over five focused days, participants gain a thorough grounding in the principles and practice of vendor pre-qualification — from designing evaluation criteria and due diligence frameworks to scoring methodologies and approval governance. The programme then extends into the full lifecycle of vendor management, covering contract compliance, performance monitoring, relationship management, risk mitigation, and supplier development.
Drawing on international procurement standards, real case studies from East African, West African, and global supply chain contexts, and hands-on exercises with templates and tools, this course transforms the way participants approach supplier selection and management. Whether you work in the public sector — where procurement regulations and value-for-money imperatives are paramount — or in a private organisation seeking competitive supply chain advantage, the frameworks you build here will be immediately deployable on return to your workplace.
By the end of the programme, participants leave with a personalised vendor management toolkit, the ability to design or reform their organisation's pre-qualification system, and the confidence to manage vendor relationships that deliver consistent, measurable value.
Who Should Attend
- Procurement Officers and Managers responsible for supplier selection and contracting
- Supply Chain Managers overseeing vendor networks and logistics partners
- Contract Managers and Contract Administrators seeking stronger supplier governance
- Finance Officers involved in vendor payment approval and financial due diligence
- Internal Auditors reviewing procurement and vendor management processes
- Project Managers who engage and supervise third-party service providers
- Public Sector Procurement Practitioners subject to regulatory compliance requirements
- NGO and Development Organisation Procurement Staff managing donor-funded procurement
- Enterprise Risk Managers with oversight of supply chain and third-party risk
- Business Owners and SME Leaders building supplier qualification systems for the first time
Learning Objectives
- Design a structured vendor pre-qualification system aligned to organisational and regulatory requirements
- Develop comprehensive vendor evaluation criteria covering financial, technical, legal, and ethical dimensions
- Conduct effective due diligence and background screening on prospective suppliers
- Apply scoring and weighting methodologies to objectively rank and select qualified vendors
- Build and maintain an approved vendor register with defined review and update cycles
- Establish key performance indicators and service level agreements to govern vendor performance
- Monitor and evaluate vendor delivery against agreed benchmarks using data-driven tools
- Manage underperforming vendors through structured remediation and escalation processes
- Identify, assess, and mitigate supply chain risks arising from vendor relationships
- Foster strategic vendor partnerships that generate long-term value and innovation
- Ensure compliance with relevant procurement regulations, anti-corruption standards, and ethical sourcing principles
- Communicate vendor management policies and decisions clearly to internal and external stakeholders
Course Modules
Module 1: Foundations of Vendor Pre-qualification and Management
- The strategic importance of vendor pre-qualification in the procurement lifecycle
- Key concepts: pre-qualification vs. post-qualification vs. pre-selection
- The cost of poor vendor selection — financial, operational, and reputational consequences
- Overview of the full vendor management lifecycle
- Stakeholders in vendor pre-qualification: roles and responsibilities
- Linking vendor management to organisational strategy and supply chain goals
Module 2: Legal, Regulatory, and Ethical Framework
- Applicable procurement laws and regulations in public and private sector contexts
- Donor and development partner procurement guidelines (World Bank, UN, EU)
- Anti-corruption standards and their implications for vendor screening
- Conflict-of-interest identification and management in supplier selection
- Ethical sourcing principles: labour standards, environmental responsibility, and fair trade
- Documentation and record-keeping obligations for audit and accountability
Module 3: Designing a Vendor Pre-qualification System
- Defining the scope and objectives of a pre-qualification programme
- Categorising vendors by spend, criticality, and risk profile
- Determining which categories of goods, works, or services require pre-qualification
- Setting minimum qualification thresholds and mandatory pass/fail criteria
- Designing a pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ) that captures relevant supplier information
- Governance structures: approval authorities, review committees, and appeals processes
Module 4: Vendor Evaluation Criteria and Scoring Methodologies
- The four dimensions of vendor evaluation: financial, technical, legal, and ethical
- Developing weighted scoring criteria aligned to procurement objectives
- Using quantitative and qualitative assessment methods in parallel
- Avoiding bias and ensuring consistency across evaluators
- Benchmarking criteria against industry and sector standards
- Documenting evaluation rationale to withstand challenge and audit scrutiny
Module 5: Due Diligence and Background Screening
- Financial due diligence: reviewing audited accounts, credit ratings, and liquidity indicators
- Technical due diligence: assessing infrastructure, capacity, and track record
- Legal due diligence: company registration, litigation history, and ownership verification
- Reputational screening: references, blacklists, and debarment registers
- Site visits and physical verification of vendor capability
- Managing third-party due diligence services and verification tools
Module 6: Building and Maintaining the Approved Vendor Register
- Structure and content of an effective approved vendor register (AVR)
- Onboarding qualified vendors: documentation, data capture, and system entry
- Categorising and segmenting the AVR for easy retrieval and reporting
- Setting review cycles and criteria for renewal, suspension, or removal
- Communicating AVR status to internal users and requisitioners
- Using digital tools and ERP systems to manage the vendor register
Module 7: Contract Compliance and Vendor Onboarding
- Translating pre-qualification commitments into enforceable contract terms
- Developing service level agreements (SLAs) that reflect vendor capability assessments
- Vendor onboarding processes: induction, system access, and orientation
- Establishing communication protocols and escalation pathways with new vendors
- Managing vendor data protection and confidentiality obligations
- Common onboarding pitfalls and how to prevent them
Module 8: Vendor Performance Monitoring and Evaluation
- Designing key performance indicators (KPIs) specific to vendor category and contract type
- Building vendor scorecards: structure, frequency, and ownership
- Collecting performance data from multiple internal stakeholders
- Conducting formal vendor performance review meetings
- Using performance dashboards to track trends and flag early warning signals
- Linking performance outcomes to contract renewal, expansion, or termination decisions
Module 9: Managing Underperformance and Vendor Risk
- Recognising the signs of vendor underperformance before it escalates
- Structured remediation plans: timelines, targets, and accountability
- Escalation frameworks: when to issue warnings, impose penalties, or terminate contracts
- Supply chain risk categories: concentration risk, geopolitical risk, financial instability
- Developing vendor contingency and business continuity plans
- Lessons-learned processes after vendor failure or contract dispute
Module 10: Strategic Vendor Relationship Management and Continuous Improvement
- Moving from transactional to strategic vendor relationships
- Vendor segmentation models: preferred, strategic, and commodity suppliers
- Joint innovation and value-creation initiatives with key vendors
- Supplier development programmes: building vendor capacity for long-term partnership
- Measuring the return on investment of vendor management programmes
- Building a culture of continuous improvement in procurement and vendor governance
Requirements & Prerequisites
Participants should have at least one year of practical experience in procurement, supply chain, contract management, or a closely related function. Basic familiarity with tendering or supplier engagement processes is recommended, as the course builds on foundational procurement concepts rather than introducing them from scratch. No advanced technical or software skills are required to attend.
Training Methodology
- Structured case study analysis drawn from real vendor failures and procurement successes across African and international supply chains
- Hands-on design workshops where participants build their own vendor pre-qualification criteria, scoring matrices, and evaluation templates
- Role-play simulations of vendor assessment panels, including supplier presentations and committee deliberations
- Group exercises using actual vendor due diligence checklists and financial health assessment tools
- Peer review sessions in which participants critique and improve each other's vendor register designs and KPI frameworks
- Facilitated discussions on regulatory and ethical dimensions, including conflict-of-interest scenarios and anti-corruption red flags
- Individual reflection assignments linking course concepts directly to participants' own organisational procurement contexts
- Practical performance monitoring exercises using sample vendor scorecards and dashboard data
Organisational Benefits
- Reduced procurement risk through rigorous upfront screening of vendors before contract award
- Improved contract outcomes driven by objective, criteria-based supplier selection
- Stronger regulatory compliance and audit readiness in vendor management processes
- Reduced maverick spending and vendor-related fraud through structured governance frameworks
- Greater supply chain resilience through proactive risk identification and mitigation
- Enhanced supplier performance through clear KPIs, SLAs, and regular performance reviews
- More strategic vendor relationships that unlock cost savings, innovation, and reliability
- A consistent, organisation-wide approach to vendor management that reduces process fragmentation
- Better return on procurement investment through continuous supplier development and improvement
- A workforce of procurement professionals equipped with up-to-date tools and internationally recognised best practice
Where Is Vendor Pre-qualification and Management Training Offered?
This course runs in-person across: Nairobi, Cape Town, Kampala, Nakuru, Johannesburg, Mombasa, Riyadh, Lagos, Abuja, Kigali, Naivasha, Accra, Kisumu, Arusha, Pretoria, Addis Ababa, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Dubai, plus Live Virtual (online) cohorts. Browse live dates for your city below.
Upcoming Schedules
| Location | Format | Dates | Price |
|---|
| Nairobi, Kenya |
In-Person |
5 Oct 2026 – 9 Oct 2026 |
KES 105,000 |
| Cape Town, South Africa |
In-Person |
5 Oct 2026 – 9 Oct 2026 |
USD 3,800 |
| Kampala, Uganda |
In-Person |
12 Oct 2026 – 16 Oct 2026 |
USD 1,900 |
| Nakuru, Kenya |
In-Person |
12 Oct 2026 – 16 Oct 2026 |
KES 115,000 |
| Johannesburg, South Africa |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 3,500 |
| Mombasa, Kenya |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
KES 120,000 |
| Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 4,500 |
| Lagos, Nigeria |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 2,500 |
| Abuja, Nigeria |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 2,800 |
| Kigali, Rwanda |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 1,900 |
| Naivasha, Kenya |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
KES 115,000 |
| Accra, Ghana |
In-Person |
26 Oct 2026 – 30 Oct 2026 |
USD 3,800 |
| Kisumu, Kenya |
In-Person |
26 Oct 2026 – 30 Oct 2026 |
KES 120,000 |
| Arusha, Tanzania |
In-Person |
26 Oct 2026 – 30 Oct 2026 |
USD 2,100 |
| Pretoria, South Africa |
In-Person |
26 Oct 2026 – 30 Oct 2026 |
USD 3,300 |
+234 more dates — view live schedule →
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a formal procurement qualification to attend this course?
No formal qualification is required. The course is designed for practitioners with at least one year of hands-on experience in procurement, supply chain, or contract management. A basic familiarity with tendering or supplier engagement processes is sufficient preparation.
Will I receive a certificate upon completing the course?
Yes. Participants who attend the full five-day programme and complete the required exercises will receive a Certificate of Completion from TrainingComplex. The certificate specifies the course title, duration, and learning outcomes achieved.
Is the course relevant to both public sector and private sector procurement professionals?
Absolutely. The programme addresses both public procurement regulations and private sector best practice, with case studies and examples drawn from both environments. Content on donor-funded procurement is also included, making it equally valuable for NGO and development sector practitioners.
What tools or materials will participants take away from the course?
Participants receive a comprehensive toolkit including a vendor pre-qualification questionnaire template, a scoring matrix, a due diligence checklist, a vendor scorecard framework, and an approved vendor register template — all formatted for immediate adaptation and use in their own organisations.
Can this course be delivered in-house for our organisation's procurement team?
Yes. TrainingComplex offers customised in-house delivery of this programme for organisations that wish to align the content specifically with their existing procurement policies, vendor categories, and regulatory environment. Contact us to discuss a tailored solution.
