Consultancy · Vendor & Procurement Advisory
AI vendors are pitching every CTO. We work for the buyer.
Independent assessment of vendor proposals, RFP support, contract review, and total cost of ownership analysis. We do not resell the AI platforms we audit or recommend. No commission, no referrals, no conflicts.
- Independent
- No vendor relationships
- Technical and commercial
What we do
Five capabilities. All for the buyer.
Vendor Proposal Assessment
Independent technical and commercial assessment of vendor proposals before you commit — architecture review, delivery model scrutiny, pricing sanity, and reference verification.
RFP & RFI Support
We help you write requirements that surface real capability — not requirements designed to validate a vendor you've already chosen. Technical depth in the procurement process, not after it.
Contract & SLA Review
Technical review of AI vendor contracts, SLA definitions, data handling obligations, and IP ownership terms. We identify what's missing, vague, or commercially disadvantageous.
Total Cost of Ownership Analysis
Full TCO modelling across the engagement horizon — including hidden costs: integration, migration, training, ongoing support, and the cost of lock-in.
Procurement Support
We work alongside your procurement and legal teams through the vendor selection process. Technical input where they need it, without taking over the commercial relationship.
How we engage
Four steps from brief to close.
- 01
Brief
Tell us the situation — which vendor, which proposal, which stage of procurement. We confirm whether vendor advisory is the right engagement and agree the specific scope.
- 02
Assessment
Independent review of proposal documents, architecture diagrams, pricing schedules, and reference evidence. Where needed, we engage the vendor directly with technical questions.
- 03
Findings
A clear written assessment: what the vendor is actually proposing, where the gaps or risks are, what questions remain unanswered, and what a well-structured counter-position looks like.
- 04
Support to close
Where you want it, we stay alongside the procurement process through negotiation and contract finalisation — providing technical input to your team at the moments that matter.
When it's right for you
Four situations where vendor advisory matters.
Before signing a significant AI vendor contract
Any AI engagement above £250k where independent technical and commercial scrutiny is proportionate to the investment.
When vendor assurances feel thin
You've asked for technical detail and received slide decks. You need someone who can ask the right questions and evaluate the answers.
Competitive vendor selection
Two or three vendors are in the running. You need a principled technical and commercial basis for the decision — not a gut call.
Contract renewal or extension
An existing vendor wants to extend or expand. Before you agree, you want independent eyes on whether the terms still serve you.
Frequently asked questions
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Do you have commercial relationships with AI vendors?
No. We do not resell the AI platforms we audit or recommend. Volorai does not earn commission, kickbacks, or referrals from any vendor. We are appointed by you and we work for you.
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Can you assess any vendor category?
Any AI or technology vendor — foundation model providers, MLOps platforms, data platforms, AI SaaS, and custom development shops. We are platform-agnostic.
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How quickly can you turn around a proposal review?
Most proposal assessments take 3–5 working days from receiving the proposal documents. Complex multi-vendor RFP processes take longer — we scope this explicitly at the start.
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Can you sit in on vendor presentations with us?
Yes. We can join vendor presentations and demos, ask technical questions on your behalf, and debrief you immediately afterwards. The buyer benefit is significant — vendors respond differently when a technically credible assessor is in the room.
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What if you find nothing wrong with the proposal?
Then we tell you that. Vendor advisory is not about finding problems — it's about giving you the confidence that the decision is soundly made, whether that means green-lighting or flagging concerns.
About to sign a vendor contract you can't unwind?
We work for the buyer. Independent vendor assessment, RFP support, contract review — no kickbacks, no platform we're trying to sell you.