PMP · Question #1332
A supplier informs the project manager that producing the quantity of a key component for the project will require an additional month. The project manager has to meet an important milestone in a week
The correct answer is D. Ask the vendor if the minimally sufficient materials can be produced in time to meet the deadline.. Given a supplier delay threatening a milestone, the project manager should first explore immediate mitigation options with the current vendor to meet the deadline.
Question
Options
- APerform market research to find out if there are other vendors that can produce similar kinds of
- BSubmit a change request to the change control board (CCB) asking to extend the deadline in
- CInvolve the legal department, as the vendor is breaching the contract by not delivering the full
- DAsk the vendor if the minimally sufficient materials can be produced in time to meet the deadline.
How the community answered
(59 responses)- A14% (8)
- B3% (2)
- C8% (5)
- D75% (44)
Why each option
Given a supplier delay threatening a milestone, the project manager should first explore immediate mitigation options with the current vendor to meet the deadline.
Performing market research for new vendors is a longer-term solution and typically will not address an urgent milestone due in a week.
Submitting a change request to extend the deadline should be considered only after exhausting all immediate options to adhere to the current schedule.
Involving the legal department is a serious escalation that can harm supplier relationships and is generally a last resort, not a first step in resolving a delivery issue.
Before considering drastic measures or external solutions, the project manager should engage with the existing vendor to see if a partial or minimally sufficient delivery can be made to meet the critical milestone. This approach focuses on immediate mitigation to keep the project on track with the current supplier.
Concept tested: Vendor management and issue mitigation
Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/project-management/project-risk-management
Topics
Community Discussion
8
Wei W.Jun 26, 2026D is the right call. You protect the milestone by negotiating for a minimally viable slice now and the rest later, which keeps the team delivering working increments instead of stalling on a contractual fight or a change request that will not help you next week.
Yusuf A.Jun 28, 2026One of the senior PMs at my company made the same call on a similar question, said the key is that you are still hitting the milestone with something usable even if it is smaller than originally scoped.
Yuki V.Jul 1, 2026Confirmed D on my exam last month. The key is that the PM needs to find a workable solution before escalating or submitting change requests, and asking the vendor for a partial delivery to hit the milestone is the most practical next step in Monitor and Control Procurements.
Olusegun A.Jul 3, 2026Agreed on D, but make sure you document the partial delivery agreement in writing as a contract amendment so you are not left holding the bag at audit.
Olusegun A.Jul 3, 2026D is the call here. Saw this on my exam last spring and the giveaway is the milestone pressure, you solve for the immediate constraint first by asking the vendor what they can actually deliver in time, not by escalating to legal or firing off a change request before you even know your options.
Carlos M.Jul 5, 2026D. But does the vendor contract actually allow partial delivery like this?
Yusuf A.Jul 5, 2026B for sure. A senior PM at my job said scope shifts always go through the CCB first.
Wei W.Jul 8, 2026D is correct here. In an Agile context the team inspects and adapts scope at backlog refinement and sprint planning, not through a traditional CCB, so Yusuf's senior PM is describing a predictive workflow that does not apply.