4.34 It is important that procuring authorities allocate sufficient resource to adequately prepare and develop their project(s) and ensure that a robust appraisal is undertaken before formal engagement with the market. Making late changes to a project once the procurement has commenced is inefficient, adds additional costs for both the public and private sectors and delays the delivery of important public services.
4.35 Procuring authorities should ensure that their requirements have been fully developed and tested at an early stage so that all project stakeholders have a firm indication of the expected cost of the project. This will also establish the procuring authority's estimated affordability envelope for the project so that it and its key stakeholders can be confident that the scope and requirements of the project is proportionate to the expected cost. The Treasury will be issuing detailed guidance on project maturity and the project approval process in early 2007.