5.38 A realistic timetable for the procurement should be set out in the OBC, and procuring authorities should monitor progress against key milestone dates. Significant slippage in the procurement timetable might indicate potential problems in achieving VfM. In particular, procuring authorities should monitor the time taken between the selection of preferred bidder and Financial Close. If this period has gone beyond the planned period then the impact on VfM must be explicitly considered, as should the drivers behind this slippage. Consideration of possible appropriate steps that might be taken to assure VfM under these circumstances should be made, these may include running a funding competition, market testing sub-contracts or consideration as to whether the PFI procurement route is suitable.