Resolving differences 4.3.2.1b

The standard requires that before submission of a tender, or acceptance of a contract or order (statement of requirement), the tender, contract, and order are reviewed to ensure that any contract or accepted order requirements differing from those in the tender are resolved. 

There is a slight conflict in this clause as it requires that before acceptance of an order, you need to ensure that any differences between your tender and the accepted order requirements are resolved. Clearly if you have not accepted the order you don t need any accepted order requirement. But this small ambiguity doesn t detract from the essence of the requirement. 

Whether or not you have submitted a formal tender, any offer you make in response to a requirement is a kind of tender. Where a customer s needs are stated and you offer your product, you are implying that it responds to your customer s stated needs. You need to ensure that your tender is compatible with your customer s needs otherwise the customer may claim you have sold a product that is not fit for purpose . If the product or service you offer is in any way different than the requirement, you need to point this out to your customer in your tender or in negotiations and reach agreement. Always record the differences in the contract. Don t rely on verbal agreements as they can be conveniently forgotten when it suits one party or the other. 

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