4.47 A consequence of the structure of IT PFI projects, the intricate nature of IT service provision, and the difficulty of integrating proprietary technologies is that it is very difficult and sometimes impossible to substitute in a timely manner a second IT service provider in the event of contractor failing to meet its obligations under the contract. This means that when an adequate service is not delivered, departments are often at a disadvantage in negotiating with their existing vendors. This problem has not occurred in the vast majority of the 440 other operational PFI projects.