previous or incumbent?

[Jane Credland]

At 01:30 PM 12/1/2006, Susan Hogarth wrote:

>When B is talking about how it will deal with A after the contract is
>awarded to B, does B refer to A as the 'incumbent' or the 'previous'
>contractor? For instance: "We (B) will communicate rapidly with the
>[incumbent/previous] contractor as soon as the contract is awarded to
>us."

Why not just say "We (B) will communicate rapidly with Company A as 
soon as the contract is awarded to us."

That way there is no confusion or possibility of misunderstanding.

If you don't want to do it that way, then specifically state how you 
are going to refer to Company A in the contract (or agreement or 
whatever it is), For example, when you first mention Company A say 
"Company A (the "previous contractor") just like you would with an acronym.

Jane