Contractor and supplier field guide / UK construction

How to verify an Opportunity Brief

Use this checklist to decide what a cited record supports, what is missing and what to check next before spending time on a possible project.

An Opportunity Brief is a lead to investigate. It is not, by itself, a confirmed buying signal, a live tender or secured work.

Four checks before you act

  1. Open and check the cited evidence

    • Read the original record, not only the brief or a search snippet. Check who published it, when it was published or updated, and whether it is an announcement, planning record, procurement notice or award notice.
    • Match each detail you may rely on to the source wording. Check for later updates, amendments or a changed status, and note any gaps or conflicting records.

  2. Confirm what the location refers to

    • Check whether the source names a specific site, a town or region, or only the authority or organisation involved. These are not interchangeable.
    • Use the cited planning or procurement record to confirm the site or delivery area where it is stated. Do not turn a broad area or an organisation’s address into a confirmed project location.

  3. Separate project facts from assumptions

    • Check the project or asset, the organisations named and the described work. A client, landowner, developer and contracting authority may be different parties.
    • Record the stage and timing in the source’s terms. A proposal, planning application, approval, construction update, live tender and contract award describe different things; confirm procurement status in the relevant current notice.

  4. Understand what the stated value covers

    • Follow the source to see whether an amount refers to the whole project, a programme, a lot, a contract, a grant or another figure. Check whether it is described as an estimate and note its date and context.
    • Do not treat a project estimate or funding announcement as a confirmed contractor budget or contract value. If the cited record gives no reliable amount, keep the value as not stated; unknown does not mean zero.

Keep the record honest

Write down what is recorded and what is still unverified

Do not fill gaps with assumptions. If a source does not state a site, scope, date, buyer, procurement route or value, mark it as not stated or unverified rather than presenting it as fact.

Suggested note format — replace the bracketed prompts with checked details: “The cited record says [verified wording]. It does not state [missing detail]. Confirm [open question] with [relevant source or organisation].”