Due diligence on bidders

As far as is reasonable and proportionate, in relation to each bidder, and in particular to each winning bidder:

• establish that the bidder is genuine (to avoid fictitious bidders created to give a false perception of competition)
• establish ultimate beneficial ownership of the bidder and its major sub-contractors and suppliers, so as to identify any possible conflict of interest which could give rise to corruption (e.g. where an employee of the procuring organisation has an ownership interest in the bidder, or in one of the bidders’s sub-contractors or suppliers, and so could favour that bidder) 
• undertake an internet search of the bidder, its major sub-contractors and suppliers, and their key managers and beneficial owners, to check for reports of corruption, lack of integrity or conflict of interest.
• verify the accuracy and plausibility of information provided by the bidder in its bid documents
• verify that the bidder is capable of performing the contract in accordance with the contract quality, quantity, programme, and price.