The Performance Specification is a key component of the documentation needed for a successful P3 procurement. The Performance Specification is the basis on which the department states in output terms what they need to achieve from the facilities and services to be provided. It helps to frame the bidders' response to the RFP.
The Performance Specification should detail what needs to be achieved, not how it is to be achieved. The emphasis is on service outcomes and outputs, explicit allocation of risks, and the integration of design and build with the operation of service facilities. A well-produced Performance Specification should allow new ideas about the design, construction and operation of the facility. Because this approach encourages Proponents to develop the means to deliver the outputs within the context of a fixed, performance-related pricing mechanism, it focuses attention on project risks.