L4M4 Ethical and Responsible Sourcing Question and Answers

Explanation

Completing Due Diligence checks will help guard against concerns about unethical business practices.

Not all companies will have a published Anti-Slavery policy- this is only required for large companies.

Known suppliers might have issues that you don't know about so you should always do due-diligence checks on everyone you work with

Formal tenders won't sort out ethical issues unless specifically addressed within the tender and strong contract management is put in place afterwards.

Explanation

Incoterms describe who out of the buer and seller; organises transport and what type of transport this is, who pays for insurance, and who organises duty / tariff arrangements when the goods go through customs. See p.131. Note- some students report a lot of questions on Incoterms in the exam, some say they only had 1. If you can, I'd learn them just to be safe.

Explanation

You should investigate automatically low tenders by clarifying the bid with the supplier. It could be they have misunderstood the requirement. Or the bid could be genuine and they can really provide best value for money. But without enquiring, you just don't know.

Incorporating standards within specifications provides clear guidelines for suppliers, reducing ambiguity and helping ensure consistency in quality and performance. This aligns with ethical and responsible sourcing practices by promoting transparency and setting consistent expectations for suppliers.

Explanation

A cash flow statement shows the money coming in and out. This would therefore show whether a supplier has enough money coming in, to be able to pay some of it out to a subcontractor.

P&L and Balance Sheets look more broadly at finances, rather than saying what's physically in the bank at a specific given time.

Do learn the difference between these three financial documents for the exam.

Balance Sheet: Explanation, Components, and Examples (investopedia.com)

Profit and Loss Statement Meaning, Importance, Types, and Examples (investopedia.com)

Cash Flow Statement: How to Read and Understand It (investopedia.com)

The Pareto principle, or the 80/20 rule, is a tool used in procurement to identify that approximately 80% of an organisation's spend is typically with 20% of its suppliers. Applying this principle helps in:

Identifying Strategic Suppliers:Recognising which suppliers account for the majority of spend allows organisations to focus on managing and nurturing these key relationships.

Optimising Supplier Relationships:Understanding spend distribution can highlight opportunities to renegotiate terms, consolidate suppliers, or adjust sourcing strategies for better efficiency and cost savings.

Exact Extract from Study Guide:

"The Pareto Principle is used to identify that 80% of spend is typically with 20% of suppliers, enabling procurement to focus on strategic supplier management and optimise commercial relationships."

Explanation

The correct answers are innovation, on time in full deliveries and sustainability.

The other options are pricing mechanisms rather than 'added value'. Added Value is giving the buyer something extra that's not necessarily financial. It can be as simple as delivering orders quicker than expected, or having a dedicated customer service phone line. Something that makes their lives a little easier.

Explanation

EBITDA stands for 'earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization'. This is a profitability ratio and would show how profitable a business is.

EBITDA: Definition, Calculation Formulas, History, and Criticisms (investopedia.com)

The balance sheet and profit and loss account provide a comprehensive view of an organisation’s financial health, showing assets, liabilities, and profits. These statements are essential in evaluating a supplier’s financial capacity, aligning with responsible sourcing practices for financial stability.

Expenditure analysis by category/supplier enables buyers to track trends over time (A), supporting benchmarking and financial control. It also identifies opportunities for negotiation (C) by highlighting concentration of spend and potential leverage with suppliers. Marketing strategy, production scheduling, and stock disposal are outside procurement’s primary scope. Responsible sourcing relies on robust spend analysis to identify efficiency opportunities, reduce wasteful expenditure, and support supplier relationship management strategies, all while aligning with sustainability and compliance goals.

Prohibiting trade union membership is a violation of workers' rights and international labor standards. Such a practice indicates potential non-compliance with ethical sourcing principles and necessitates further investigation. Ensuring that suppliers respect workers' rights to association is fundamental to ethical procurement.

Explanation

The correct answers are; suspiciously low labour costs, workers living on site and poor quality products (as this signals that the workforce may be unskilled).

A low score on the CPI is a good thing (high scores are more likely to signify slavery concerns) and just because someone speaks English as a second language doesn't mean you automatically need to be suspicious. That would be prejudice.

Explanation

you would use a restricted approach when interest is likely to be high. The buyer needs a method of de-selecting unsuitable bidders and creating a shortlist of acceptable organisations.

For complex requirements you could use both an open or restrictive tender- the difference between the approaches is about how many bids you're likely to get rather than the complexity of it.

Defining corrective actions and running supplier development programs are effective remedial actions following an audit. These approaches support continuous improvement, aligning with responsible sourcing by helping suppliers meet ethical and performance standards.

Explanation

Weighted points systems can be time consuming to create. They're very transparent and allow for objective grading of supplier bids (so these answers are incorrect). They are not easy to manipulate and this is an advantage of using them.

A full competitive tendering process ensures fairness by treating all suppliers equally, allowing them to compete on a level playing field. This aligns with ethical sourcing principles, especially in the public sector, where transparency and equal opportunity are paramount.

Incoterms are grouped into four categories:

E: Departure (EXW)

F: Main carriage unpaid (FCA, FAS, FOB)

C: Main carriage paid (CFR, CIF, CPT, CIP)

Multiple sourcing is particularly beneficial when requirements are time-sensitive and availability is critical. By engaging more than one supplier, the buyer ensures supply continuity, reduces dependency on a single provider, and improves responsiveness to urgent needs. While sole or single sourcing may suit high-cost strategic components or unique expertise, these arrangements increase dependency risks. For short-notice requirements such as consumables or basic components, multiple sourcing provides resilience and flexibility. CIPS L4M4 stresses that sourcing strategy should reflect risk, demand variability, and supply criticality, and multiple sourcing directly addresses supply risk mitigation.

Explanation

One of the biggest advantages to making an item over buying it is 'improved quality control'.

When you make the product yourself, you can set the quality parameters you require and aren't re-stricted to, or dependant on, what the supplier does. The other options are incorrect- making stuff inhouse would mean you hold more inventory. If the supplier has a higher skillset than you, you would outsource. Threat of substitutions wouldn't impact this decision.

For a list of pros and cons relating to the 'make or buy' decision see p.5. This is a hot topic for the exam.

When sourcing internationally, one of the first evaluation considerations is the use of Incoterms (B), which define the allocation of transport costs, risks, and responsibilities between buyer and supplier. They are essential for evaluating total cost and risk implications of international offers. Contract management and supplier development are post-award activities, while benchmarking is an internal tool. Responsible sourcing stresses the importance of clear Incoterm agreements to avoid disputes, ensure compliance, and fairly allocate responsibilities in global supply chains.

Explanation

liquid = the ability to pay short and medium term debts. In simple terms do you have more in stuff (money, assets) than you owe in debt?

Understanding Liquidity and How to Measure It (investopedia.com)

This is a hot topic for the exam. Learn everything in this section.

Addressing human rights issues collaboratively by developing an action plan allows for improvement and correction. This approach is consistent with ethical sourcing principles, which encourage responsible intervention to correct and improve supply chain practices rather than punitive measures that may not lead to long-term change.

Explanation

If tenders are received by electronic submission exclusively, the buyer can reduce the timescale. On average the time for a standard tender submission can be reduced by 5 days if bids are submitted electronically.

*Note* this is based off current PCR Regs 2015 which are being superseded in October 2024 by new legislation. We currently don't know what the new regs will say on this. If it's different, my best guess is CIPS will remove any question about it from their exam- because the study guide would be wrong and that would lead to complaints.

Regularly checking supplier policies and conflict of interest registers helps ensure that suppliers are upholding ethical standards, which supports responsible sourcing practices. This governance activity aligns with ethical guidelines to promote transparency and prevent conflicts that could affect the integrity of the supply chain.

Under theFOB (Free on Board)Incoterm, the seller is responsible for delivering the goods onto the vessel at the named port of shipment. Once the goods are on board, the risk and responsibility transfer to the buyer. From that point onward, the buyer assumes all costs and risks associated with the transportation of the goods, including freight charges, insurance, unloading, and delivery to the final destination.

This interpretation aligns with the Incoterms® 2020 rules set by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). It's crucial to note that FOB is applicable only for sea or inland waterway transport and is not suitable for containerized cargo, where theFCA (Free Carrier)term is more appropriate.

Secondary sources are data sets and publications that already exist and are not collected directly by the buyer. Examples include published economic indices (A), which provide information on inflation, commodity prices, and market trends, and financial/trade press (D), which offers insights into industries, suppliers, and economic conditions. By contrast, a buyer’s internal database and field observation studies are primary data sources, while supplier marketing materials are biased and less reliable. Responsible sourcing requires procurement professionals to use both secondary and primary sources for comprehensive market analysis, but secondary sources are especially useful for benchmarking and environmental scanning.

In the sourcing process, obtaining necessary approvals (such as drawings for the invitation to tender) is critical to ensure clarity and readiness before engaging with suppliers. Responsible sourcing emphasizes structured preparation, ensuring compliance and accuracy in supplier expectations.

Adopting ISO environmental standards aligns procurement practices with sustainability goals and helps reduce environmental and social impacts. Although implementing ISO standards may require initial adjustments, they foster long-term benefits by promoting responsible and ethical sourcing practices across the supply chain.

Explanation

The correct answer is 'demand is exceeding supply'- If everyone wants to buy something, the sup-pliers will likely increase the price.

If there was little demand or there were threats of substitutions, this would likely result in a price decrease.

The balance sheet provides a snapshot of a company's financial position at a specific point in time, detailing assets, liabilities, and equity. Short-term liabilities, such as unpaid taxes and bank overdrafts, are obligations the company must settle within a year and are critical indicators of the company's liquidity and financial health.

Exact Extract from Study Guide:

"The balance sheet includes details of current liabilities, such as unpaid taxes and bank overdrafts, which are essential for assessing a supplier's short-term financial obligations and overall stability."

A carnet (specifically an ATA Carnet) is a customs document that allows for the temporary duty-free and tax-free movement of goods across international borders. It is commonly used for exhibitions, fairs, and professional equipment but is not proof of origin. Proof of origin is instead provided by a certificate of origin or other trade documents. It is also not an insurance policy. Responsible sourcing requires buyers to distinguish between documents used for temporary movement (carnet), origin evidence (certificate of origin), and risk transfer (insurance). Correct understanding avoids compliance failures, delays, or unexpected costs in international trade.

Explanation

Cleaning and Facilities Management are the most appropriate items to outsource. They would not outsource the making of confectionary products as this is the 'core' business.

See p.4 for "what is outsourcing?"

Multiple sourcing is particularly advantageous for ensuring quick delivery and preventing stock-outs, as it provides the flexibility to source from multiple suppliers. This approach aligns with responsible sourcing by ensuring continuity and reducing risks in the supply chain.

The 'people' element of the triple bottom line focuses on social responsibility, including fair labor practices and community engagement. A supplier's demonstrated commitment to a labor industry code of conduct indicates adherence to ethical labor standards, such as fair wages, safe working conditions, and respect for workers' rights, aligning with the social sustainability goals of the project.

Exact Extract from Study Guide:

"The triple bottom line – profit, people and planet

• Adopt sustainable practices, standards and specifications in the supply chain

• Consider the social impact of the organisation’s behaviours

• Design procurement processes to deliver social outcomes as well as, or as an alternative to, normal economic measures of value"

Explanation

Request for Quotations can include more details than just prices. They can include specs and technical drawings and samples. It's like saying 'we can give you this price with these conditions'.

The other no answer is wrong because RfQ don't always include samples. A sample wouldn't be possible for a quote for an IT consultancy piece of work.

Under FOB (Free on Board), the buyer assumes responsibility once the goods are loaded onto the ship, including costs and risks beyond this point. This Incoterm is commonly used in international trade, helping both parties clarify responsibilities and promote fair risk distribution.

Explanation

The correct answers are; currency exchange fluctuations, ethical behavior and cultural differences.

Shortened lead times is not correct because sourcing internationally would result in longer lead times. Export tariffs is not correct as Elaine is importing the items into the UK, not exporting them.

In cases where price differentiation is minimal, negotiating on added-value services like after-sales support can offer additional benefits. This aligns with responsible sourcing by focusing on long-term value and fostering a cooperative relationship with the supplier.

The gross profit margin ratio is calculated by subtracting the cost of goods sold (COGS) from income from sales, then dividing by income from sales. This ratio indicates the profitability of a supplier, a critical factor in assessing financial health, which helps buyers ensure reliable supply continuity.

Explanation

This is a facilitation payment. It's when a sum of money is given for 'helping to facilitate' a contract. E.g. a procurement manager may accept a facilitation payment from a supplier for selecting him to be a new supplier for a big contract.

In the UK this is definitely considered a bribe. It's also against the CIPS Code of Conflict

The withholding of passports is a potential indication of modern slavery, and the offer of a discount to avoid reporting this is a form of bribery. Reporting these ethical concerns aligns with responsiblesourcing practices and is critical for maintaining a supply chain free from human rights abuses.

Credit rating agencies assess an organisation’s financial stability and risk of default. Key data includes financial obligations (such as outstanding loans, debt levels, repayment schedules) and payment history (how reliably the firm pays creditors and suppliers). These indicators show liquidity, cash flow reliability, and debt servicing ability. Factors such as “value for money” or “ecosystems” are irrelevant in a financial risk context. Responsible sourcing requires buyers to consider supplier financial resilience, as instability could disrupt supply chains, increase risk exposure, and lead to reputational damage. Agencies like Moody’s, S&P, and Fitch provide independent assessments that complement in-house financial analysis.

Transparency International provides the Corruption Perceptions Index, which ranks countries based on perceived levels of public sector corruption, offering valuable insights into the anti-bribery risks of a specific country. Additionally, understanding the local anti-corruption legislation helps the buyer assess the legal framework and enforcement mechanisms in place, which is crucial when entering into contracts with suppliers in new jurisdictions.

Exact Extract from Study Guide:

"Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index is a key resource for assessing the risk of corruption in different countries. Local anti-corruption legislation provides the legal context within which suppliers operate, and understanding these laws is essential for ensuring compliance and ethical sourcing."

CIPS members who adhere to the CIPS Code of Conduct gain insight into ethical business practices and retain their membership and access to CIPS resources. This commitment to ethical standards supports responsible sourcing by fostering a community of professionals who value integrity and best practices.

In the initial evaluation of non-domestic vendor supply proposals, understanding and applying the correct Incoterm classifications is crucial. Incoterms (International Commercial Terms) define the responsibilities of buyers and sellers in international transactions, including the point at which risk transfers from seller to buyer. Evaluating these terms early ensures clarity in logistics, costs, and risk management.

Exact Extract from Study Guide:

"When sourcing from international suppliers, it is important to be aware of the key legislative and regulatory requirements in both the home country as well as the country of origin. Depending on product and service type, for example, you may need to consider product safety measures, industry regulations, and environmental regulations. In terms of organizational requirements, it is important to pay attention to details such as applicable payment terms and local labor practices."

Explanation

This is sole sourcing as there is only one supplier in the marketplace.

Be careful not to confuse single sourcing and sole sourcing. Single sourcing is when a buyer chooses to work with only one supplier (usually to achieve economies of scale), sole sourcing, on the other hand, is when the buyer doesn't have a choice- they work with one supplier because there is only one supplier in the market.

Types of sourcing is a key concept for this exam.

Explanation

the right to change nationality is not included in the UN Declaration of Human Rights. There are 30 in total but you're not expected to know them all. You should know the big ones though which are; life, security, belief, equal treatment, free speech and expression. A summary can be found here: Universal Declaration of Human Rights | United Nations

Liquidity ratios assess a company's capacity to meet its short-term obligations using its most liquid assets. These ratios, such as the current ratio and quick ratio, provide insight into the financial health of a company by indicating whether it has sufficient resources to pay off its immediate liabilities without raising external capital.

Exact Extract from Study Guide:

"Liquidity ratios: − Typical ratios: current ratio, quick ratio, cash flow ratio, etc. − Formulae of those ratios − Implications of liquidity ratios

Phishing is categorized as fraud because it involves deceptive practices to gain sensitive information or financial benefits. Responsible sourcing includes ensuring that cybersecurity measures are in place to prevent fraud and protect sensitive information within supply chains.

Explanation

economic indices and comparison websites are secondary sources of data. The other three are examples of primary sources of data.

Primary= you get the data yourself

Secondary = you find the data from somewhere else

Added value refers to benefits beyond basic price and compliance. Examples include suppliers proposing innovations or cost-reduction strategies in the supply chain (2) and sustainability commitments like reducing plastics and waste (3). Lowest price is part of baseline evaluation, not added value. Personal connections (4) are not a valid or ethical procurement criterion and could breach fairness. Responsible sourcing emphasises identifying suppliers who contribute to continuous improvement, sustainability, and efficiency beyond contractual minimums.

Explanation

EXW- exworks is a suitable incoterm for transporting goods both by rail and boat. It can be used regardless of the mode of transport. The other three are for transport over water. P. 143 Shipping Incoterms: the Complete Guide - Guided Imports

Some students report a lot of questions on Incoterms in the exam, some say they only had 1. Best bet is to learn them if you possibly can.

Explanation

energy, agriculture, metals, livestock are the four trading categories on the stock exchange. Some-times there's a 5th category added which is 'environmental credits'. This is a fairly new thing and you don't need to know anything about this for this exam.

Question no commodities will mainly centre around characteristics of commodities and factors that affect pricing.

Commodities are discussed much more in detail in L5M4. At level 4 you just need a basic overview.

Accepting an invitation under such circumstances would violate ethical standards, as it could create a conflict of interest. Ethical sourcing and procurement practices require impartiality, and any perceived favoritism or bias can harm the organisation's integrity.

The Pareto principle (80/20) shows that around 80% of spend is often concentrated with 20% of suppliers. It is relevant for identifying strategic suppliers (D) that require close management and opportunities to improve or change relationships (E) for greater value. Contract expiry dates (B) and payment frequency (A) are administrative details, not Pareto analysis outputs. Cost variation (C) relates to performance analysis, not spend concentration. Responsible sourcing uses Pareto analysis to allocate resources effectively, focusing attention on the most impactful supplier relationships.

Explanation

The correct answer is 'gearing ratio'.

Gearing measures how much of a company's funding is based on long-term debt or loans- this would be affected by a steep rise in inflation. If a company has a mortgage on their offices or facto-ry and they need to remortgage and inflation has gone up a lot- they'll be paying a lot more on their mortgage. This will severely effect the gearing ratio as they'll have more outgoings than incoming.

Gross profit margin COULD be affected by inflation, for example if you've got hyper-inflation and the country goes into recession and people stop buying your product. However, this answer isn't al-ways right and depends on many factors- the industry, the product, the company etc, so for the purpose of CIPS should be discounted. There are many industries which are immune to inflation.

A current ratio below 1 suggests that the supplier may not have sufficient current assets to cover short-term liabilities, which could pose a risk to the buyer. Assessing financial stability aligns with responsible sourcing practices, as it ensures suppliers can fulfill contracts without disruption.

The balance sheet (statement of financial position) shows assets, liabilities, and equity at a point in time. The profit and loss account (income statement) shows revenues, expenses, and profit over a period. These are the two core statements used to assess supplier stability and performance. The cash flow statement is useful but supplementary, while chairman’s statements are narrative, not financial records. Responsible sourcing emphasises using balance sheet and P&L analysis to evaluate supplier financial strength, ensuring continuity of supply and risk management.

Explanation

the correct answer is 'Yes- a low gearing ratio means the company's finances are made up of equity rather than debt'.

Remember low gearing = good (based on equity), high gearing = bad (based on debt). Anything over 50% is considered high.

The two no answers are therefore incorrect and you can discount these straight away. The other yes answer is one of those answers which COULD be true, but isn't always true, and we'd need more information to know for sure. When you get options like this there will be one that is always right and one which is sometimes right - so always pick the always right one.

Dealing with supply chain disruptions is complex, and depending what the disruption is, how big it is, what the industry is etc determines whether a supplier can handle it or not. Because there's more factors to consider than just gearing, this isn't the right answer.

Under the EXW (Ex Works) Incoterm, the buyer assumes responsibility for transportation and export clearance from the seller’s premises. This term aligns with cost-saving measures and the buyer’s internal capabilities for logistics, supporting efficient and responsible sourcing.

During tender evaluation, buyers must ensure that each submission is analysed thoroughly and consistently. Producing a report on each submission (1) supports transparency, auditability, and fairness. Checking arithmetical accuracy (3) ensures that pricing data is correct and prevents calculation errors from misleading the evaluation. Reviewing pre-qualification questionnaires is part of the earlier stage, not tender analysis, while market dynamics are external context, not part of evaluating responses. Responsible sourcing highlights the importance of structured and auditable evaluation processes to protect against bias, ensure compliance, and provide stakeholders with a defendable record of decisions.

Explanation

According to p.75 "a RFQ attempts to assess which supplier can achieve the Five Rights of Procurement". Although price is the only factor considered when using a RFQ- it's important to consider this price in detail; can the supplier deliver the right QUALITY of product for this price?, can they deliver the item WHEN we need it for this price? etc.

The answer is not 'who will deliver it the cheapest' because Jamilla might not pick the cheapest sup-plier. If the cheapest supplier has inferior quality paper, or can only make deliveries every other Tuesday then Jamilla may not select them.

Explanation

At supplier selection stage, unsuitable suppliers should be removed (those that do not add value or pose a risk). At develop strategy stage you're not even looking at suppliers yet- you're just deciding what you need. At contract award and asset management it's too late.

CIPS procurement cycle - Procurement Supply Cycle | CIPS

Explanation

ISO isn't an indices- it stands for 'International Labour Association'.

The others are all indices that measure economic data; consumer price index, producer price index and gross domestic product.

Explanation

So you can immediately discount the options starting with yes.

Quoting in GBP / £ rather than the supplier's currency reduces the risk to the buyer. It will not re-duce the cost of the import, and will probably increase it as the supplier is then taking on the risk of currency fluctuations.

Loss of control and loss of private information are significant risks in outsourcing. Responsible sourcing involves mitigating these risks by setting clear agreements, monitoring, and safeguarding sensitive information to maintain control over outsourced activities.

In addition to price, factors like lead times, add-on costs, and past performance are important to ensure the supplier meets the buyer's requirements sustainably and reliably. These criteria align with ethical sourcing by promoting value and accountability beyond just cost considerations.

Responsible procurement and supply are governed by several key regulatory areas to ensure ethical and fair practices. These include:

Ethical Practice:Ensures that organisations conduct business in a manner that is ethical and free from corruption.

Data Protection:Involves safeguarding personal and sensitive information, ensuring compliance with laws such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Marketplace Competition:Ensures fair competition among businesses, preventing monopolies and promoting consumer choice.

These areas are critical in maintaining integrity, trust, and compliance within procurement activities.

Exact Extract from Study Guide:

"Key areas of regulation that organisations must follow include data protection, ethical practice, health, safety and environment, worker rights, marketplace competition, and product safety standards."

Explanation

tactical is the correct answer; items that are short-term or low value are considered tactical.

Strategic sourcing is long term and high value.

Outsourcing is moving a key business function to an external company.

Insourcing is bringing a previously outsourced part of the company back in-house.

Explanation

Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) is the Public Sector's go to evaluation criteria.

NOTE that this is changing from October 2023. Public Sector Procurement is currently based on legislation called PCR 2015 which itself is based on EU Procurement Directives. Now the UK has officially Brexited, we're making our own laws and the new Procurement Bill will be coming into effect in November 2024. One of the major changes is that MEAT is changing to MAT (most ad-vantageous tender - without the economical bit).

If you're sitting this exam until July 2024- you're fine- learn what the study guide says. If you're taking the exam from November 2024 I'm not sure what students are expected to do. The entire section on public sector procurement is incorrect for you. My best guess is CIPS may removequestions this section as the study guide will be wrong, but I really don't know how they plan to handle this.

The new Procurement Bill - MEAT to MAT - Hempsons - Hempsons

Explanation

The correct answer is 'no - added value may change from one company to another'.

Added value is very subjective. What one person thinks is excellent added value, another may not rate highly. For example one buyer may consider a supplier having good brand reputation as added value, but another might not care.

The other no answer is incorrect because added value can be tangible or intangible. Tangible means you can touch and see it and intangible means you can't.

Informing suppliers of non-conformances and improvement opportunities supports responsible sourcing by promoting continuous improvement. Preparing a report for supplier review also aligns with transparency and collaborative improvement, integral to ethical sourcing standards.

International trade relies on proper documentation. A certificate of origin (2) confirms where goods are produced, often required for customs clearance and to determine tariffs. A purchase order (3) provides formal buyer intent and agreement of terms, forming the basis for customs and logistics processes. Product quality statistics (1) and supplier financial position (4) are relevant for supplier selection and monitoring but not directly for import/export processes. Responsible sourcing requires procurement professionals to ensure correct documentation is used to avoid delays, penalties, or breaches of trade regulations.

Explanation

The buyer should seek a 'collaborative' relationship. Transactional and arms-length relationships are more suited to tactical sourcing. Partnerships are reserved for joint-ventures.

Explanation

Carry out due diligence is the correct answer. The other answers are incorrect:

- ensure all 46 suppliers publish an Anti Slavery Statement in line with the Modern Slavery Act is wrong because the question states that some suppliers are international. The legislation is UK, meaning international suppliers don't have to do the statement. It also only applies to companies with a turnover of £36m, and some of Zeb's suppliers may be smaller than this.

- work with less suppliers to reduce the risk of slavery entering the supply chain is a silly answer be-cause Zeb probably needs all of his suppliers. There's probably a reason he uses that many.

- ask all suppliers to get Fair Trade accredited is also a silly answer. Fair Trade only exists in some industries such as cocoa and bananas. Zig Zag Zips is in manufacturing so it's probably not going to be able to fairtrade accredit some of the stuff it buys.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the average change over time in the prices paid by consumers for a market basket of goods and services. It reflects price variations in specific geographical locations and tracks the weighted average prices of selected commodities, providing insights into inflation and cost of living.

Exact Extract from Study Guide:

"The Consumer Price Index (CPI) tracks variations in prices for a range of consumer goods and services over time, in a particular geographic location."

Financial assessments help ensure a supplier can meet the demands of a high-value contract without disruptions. This aligns with responsible sourcing principles by promoting stable supplier relationships and reducing the risk of supply chain interruptions due to financial instability.

Restricted tendering involves filtering suppliers through a prequalification stage and then evaluating proposals. The selection focuses on ensuring suppliers have adequate production capacity and financial stability to deliver on requirements. These are critical to continuity, quality, and risk management. Decommissioning costs are not typically part of supplier selection, and total life cost is an award criterion considered later in evaluation. By checking production capacity and financial stability, buyers mitigate risks of underperformance or financial collapse. This approach aligns with responsible sourcing, where due diligence ensures suppliers can sustainably meet obligations.

Payment history and financial stress scores provide insights into a supplier’s financial health and stability. This information is crucial for procurement professionals in assessing whether a supplier can fulfill long-term commitments, supporting responsible sourcing by mitigating financial risks.

Explanation

The correct answer is 'yes - these can be completed without warning which would give Ali an accurate picture of the supplier's operations'. The other options are incorrect:

1) you can do many types of audit- financial, ethical, Health and Safety etc

2) asking a supplier about their ethical practices isn't likely going to get you accurate information. They'll just tell you what they think you want to hear

3) audits are great- but they don't ALWAYS uncover issues. Always is the key word in that sentence which makes it incorrect.

In public sector procurement, maintaining service levels within value and cost parameters is essential to ensure efficient use of public funds. Additionally, a competitive tendering process is encouraged to promote transparency, fairness, and value for money. While long-term supplier relationships can be beneficial, they are not always feasible or emphasized in the public sector due to regulations requiring periodic re-tendering. Confidentiality is important, but public sector procurement often requires a degree of transparency that precludes complete confidentiality in dealings.