1.4 The object of this review is to examine the way in which the Competitive Dialogue procedure has been undertaken in practice and the impact this has had on complex procurement in the UK, drawing on the experience of contracting authorities and market participants.
1.5 The intention of this review is not to replace or rewrite the 2008 HM Treasury and OGC guidance2, but instead consider how Competitive Dialogue is being used, illuminate areas of concern, and make recommendations for ongoing and future procurements.
1.6 Working with advisers PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, HM Treasury initially engaged in desk based research to establish the size of the UK Competitive Dialogue market, identify the types of complex procurements being undertaken and better understand the skills and capacity of contracting authorities delivering the process.
1.7 Two surveys, one project specific and one general, were commissioned to provide an evidence base for the review. The project specific survey targeted individuals from the public sector team on each individual Competitive Dialogue procurement identified by the initial desk based research. The second, web based, survey provided an opportunity for a response from all individuals that have an interest in the Competitive Dialogue procedure.
1.8 A series of roundtable discussions were then held with groups of key stakeholders, including central government commercial directors, PPP programme managers, academics, infrastructure bidders, IT bidders, legal advisors, financiers and central government/local authority representatives. These discussions covered the issues raised by the two surveys, and allowed groups with significant, first hand, Competitive Dialogue experience to share their views.
1.9 We were keen to explore whether issues raised were specific to Competitive Dialogue or were more general procurement issues and whether they relate to the specific nature of the procedure or to the capacity and capability of an authority.
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2 http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/competitive_dialogue_procedure.pdf