A consultancy was contracted for 18 months even though the project lasts 32 months, forcing an unplanned rebid mid-project. What should the project manager have done to prevent this?

The project manager should have developed a detailed, phased procurement management plan covering all required activities and obtained client approval. This proactive approach ensures all procurement needs, including potential renewals or extensions, are identified and planned for from the outset, preventing unexpected rebids. Including the client in all negotiation phases is impractical and inefficient. Agreeing on reporting frequency is important for communication but doesn't prevent procurement shortfalls. Preparing a second contract before the first is signed is not standard practice and doesn't address the underlying planning issue.