.png){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
Dual-track discovery. Our view on when it adds value and how capability and capacity assessments improve supplier decisions.
Dual-track discovery is a two-path assessment that separates supplier capability from supplier capacity to give a clearer, more accurate view of delivery viability.
It recognises that a supplier’s technical competence (capability) and its ability to deliver at scale and within required timeframes (capacity) are distinct issues that often move independently. In procurement and delivery-intensive industries, dual-track discovery examines these two dimensions in parallel to determine:
The approach creates a more realistic fact base for shortlisting, tendering, mobilisation, and risk management, especially for large, multi-package programs.
Capability discovery asks whether a supplier can technically deliver the work to the required standard. It looks at the supplier’s skills, past performance, certifications, systems, quality processes, and regulatory compliance. The aim is to confirm that the supplier is technically competent and able to meet the scope, requirements, and assurance expectations of the project. What this track examines:
Capacity discovery asks whether a supplier can deliver the work at the required scale and within the required timeframe. It focuses on workforce availability, current workload, plant and equipment, subcontractor depth, financial resilience, and operational bandwidth. The aim is to confirm the supplier has sufficient resources to execute the package without causing delays or constraints.What this track examines:
Dual-track discovery treats capability and capacity as two different questions because a supplier can be strong in one and weak in the other. A supplier may be highly capable but fully committed on other projects, or may have available resources but lack the technical competence for a complex package.
Assessing both tracks in parallel gives a clearer and more realistic view of delivery viability and reduces the risk of shortlisting suppliers who cannot meet either the technical requirements or the delivery window.
Dual-track discovery is not something you need to apply to every procurement process. It is applied only when there is material uncertainty about a supplier's technical capability or their delivery capacity. If both are predictable and low-risk, the extra assessment adds little to no value.
A Simple Rule is:
If capability is clear and capacity is unconstrained, dual-track adds little to no value.
If either dimension is uncertain, it becomes beneficial.
In other words, dual-track becomes important only when getting the wrong supplier onto the shortlist could create delays, quality issues, or resourcing problems once delivery begins.
Dual-track discovery. Our view on when it adds value and how capability and capacity assessments improve supplier decisions.
Investing in readiness pays off, reducing cost overruns, improving delivery performance, and safeguarding long-term value.
PPPs are shifting procurement from transaction to transformation. Here’s how collaboration is reshaping value and delivery.
The decade ahead will redefine supply chains across Australia and New Zealand, driven by data integration, capability, and regional resilience.
Supplier value is now defined by innovation, sustainability and resilience—here’s how clients are changing their approach.
Supplier oversight gaps often appear where visibility seems strongest—here are three areas that deserve closer attention.
.svg){kind=icon}