The guidelines and procedures described in this framework are intended to help Program Ministries, SIOs and private sector enterprises explore the possibility of setting up P3s related to capital infrastructure projects under the mandate of the Ministry of Treasury Board and the Service Delivery Ministries. Such partnerships would respond to the infrastructure needs of SIOs and Program Ministries. The goal of these partnerships is to better serve Alberta's infrastructure needs.
P3 procedures are designed to enable efficient and timely consideration of P3 proposals by the ministries. They are flexible enough to allow innovation, while ensuring that only needed projects are undertaken. The P3 potential of a project will be identified in the capital planning process set out in Alberta's internal Capital Planning Manual)). There are potentially three phases to the assessment process.
Phase 1: Initial Assessment
The first phase is an initial high-level feasibility assessment by the Alternative Capital Financing Office (ACFO), with the Program Ministry, to determine if there is any potential for value in a P3 procurement. The Program Ministry and ACFO will assess the feasibility analysis in accordance with the criteria in this framework and determine if the project should be further considered as a P3.
Phase 2: Opportunity Paper
Further evaluations will be performed by the Program Ministry, the Service Delivery Ministry, the SIO (if applicable) and ACFO. If the initial evaluation shows the project has P3 potential, these stakeholders may prepare an Opportunity Paper. The Opportunity Paper provides a more in-depth look at the project's P3 potential than the initial assessment, but does not require extensive work to complete. The preparation of an Opportunity Paper may not be required if, based on factors such as the Initial Assessment and project timing, a decision is made that the project will proceed directly to the Business Case phase, The Initial Assessment and Opportunity Paper analysis phases may be conducted before a project is included in the Capital Plan, but no procurement activities will take place until the project is in the approved Capital Plan.
Phase 3: Business Case
If, after completion of the Initial Assessment or Opportunity Paper the project is still a suitable P3 candidate, preparation of a Business Case is indicated. The Business Case is an in-depth analysis and generally uses the services of various consultants (technical, financial, capital markets) to complete.