3.5 It is expected that, as a minimum, all departmental PFI projects will have been assessed at programme level prior to the procuring authority embarking on the completion of an OBC. The exception to this is for unique/pathfinder projects which do not easily fit into a programme level assessment. For these projects it is still necessary to undertake a VfM assessment, although it would be appropriate in such cases to begin with a Stage 2 assessment both at its inception at the spending review, and then again before the OBC is finalised.