Depending on the type of infrastructure, the proponent may decide to gauge the potential for quality bids. The contacting of interested parties to assess interest can be accomplished through direct mailing, advertising and the holding of "information sessions." Regardless of the method used to gauge public interest, it is imperative that the process be fair and transparent.
The proponent may utilize RFEIs to determine the interest of private-sector participants. The information contained in the RFEI should be carefully drafted under the guidance of legal counsel to mitigate the risk of litigation.
Responses to the RFEI should be reviewed to develop a shortlist that can lead to the invitation to submit formal bids to the project. The evaluation of the RFEI must be fully documented, with all recommendations fully justified on the basis of criteria presented in the RFEI. Upon selection of the successful party, the unsuccessful parties should be debriefed. This debriefing will provide valuable feedback on specific matters of concerns with the competitive procurement process and with the perceptions of doing business with the public sector.