Vendor Drama & How to Survive It: Project Procurement for PMs Who Hate Red Tape 📦

Procurement Without Going Postal

#ProjectProcurement #VendorDrama #CompTIAProjectPlus #RedTapeSurvival #PK0005 #ContractChaos #PMTruths

TL;DR – Procurement Is Just Shopping With Extra Paperwork (and More Enemies)

• Procurement is about buying what you can’t build—but it’s also about rules, politics, and paperwork purgatory.

• You'll need to know procurement types, contracts, risks, and the procurement process.

• And no, bribing Legal is not in the Project+ exam guide.

🧠 Why Procurement Turns PMs Into Stress-Fueled Creatures

If you thought managing your internal team was fun, wait until you add vendors, contracts, and lawyers.

Procurement is the part of the project where dreams meet budgets, and everyone starts CC'ing Legal "just in case."

🧾 Procurement: What You Actually Need to Know for Project+

Here’s what CompTIA wants you to remember (even if it hurts):

• Procurement Documents (RFPs, RFQs, SOWs)

• Types of Contracts (and which one will make you cry the least)

• Procurement Life Cycle

• Vendor Management

• Risk, Compliance, and Change Control

🔍 The Procurement Process, Simplified (And Sanitized for Your Sanity)

📜 Step 1: Determine What You Need

Start with a make-or-buy analysis.
Can you build it in-house, or do you need an outside vendor?

Example: You could design a new data center, but you don’t even have enough outlets. Time to outsource.

📑 Step 2: Choose the Right Procurement Doc for the Drama

✅ Project+ Tip: Know the purpose and components of each. Questions love to ask which document to use and when.

💼 Step 3: Pick Your Poison (Contract Types)

There are three main flavors of contracts in the Project+ universe:

💡 Mnemonic:
Fixed = Frugal, Cost = Chaotic, T&M = TBD

🚨 Step 4: Manage the Vendor Without Losing Your Mind

You need to:

• Track vendor performance

• Manage change requests

• Handle disputes like a corporate therapist

• Ensure deliverables meet quality expectations

Reminder: “That’s not in the scope” is a full sentence.

🧨 Step 5: Close the Procurement Like a Pro

Closing involves:

• Confirming all work is complete

• Making final payments

• Closing contracts officially

• Filing documents so nobody “forgets” who was responsible

And yes, this is where you find out if the vendor actually delivered what they promised—or just ghosted.

🔥 Real-Life Example: The Great Printer Fiasco

You need a new printer vendor.

1. You send an RFP. Three vendors reply. One offers “inkless innovation” that sounds like witchcraft.

2. You choose Vendor A with a fixed-price contract.

3. Mid-project, Vendor A changes rep… and nothing works.

4. Your scope doc saves you.

5. You escalate, resolve it, and finally close the contract with a firm handshake and a long sigh.

🎉 You didn’t go postal. Victory.

❓ Project+ Sample Questions You Might See

Which document defines the deliverables and scope for a vendor?
✔️ Answer: SOW (Statement of Work)

What’s a risk of a cost-reimbursable contract?
✔️ Answer: The project may go over budget due to lack of cost control.

🧘 Procurement Zen: Your Sanity Is Worth the Effort

Procurement is messy because it deals with outsiders, expectations, and Legal.

But with the right documents, clear scope, and firm control, you’ll come out the other side looking like a project rock star who didn’t throw a single stapler.

🔜 Next in the Series:

🎃 “Agile vs Waterfall: Who Wins in the Fight for Project Supremacy?”
Choose Your Fighter!.