The first step in supplier involvement is identifying suppliers that can contribute to planning. Numerous methods are available for identifying the pool of possible suppliers, most of which are chosen based on the Postal Service’s history with existing suppliers. Information generated from participation in ESI, RFIs, past performance, and market research can be particularly useful to the identification.
The suppliers involved should have the most up-to-date expertise ⁄capabilities with regard to the purchase. The depth of the suppliers’ knowledge of products or services will vary, so proper identification is crucial.
