A dedicated project team is in place within DHS to manage the state's involvement in the project on a day to day basis. The state's role during the design and construction phase of the project is to manage the contract or project agreement in place with the project company and to manage its involvement in the design and construction process in accordance with the provisions of that agreement.
Consistent with other PPP arrangements, responsibility for the construction of the new hospital rests with the project company, not the state.
The role of the state's project team encompasses both contract management and project management activities. The audit sought to assess whether adequate management systems and processes are documented and in place to enable the state to effectively oversee, manage and govern its contract management activities as well as its involvement in the project.
On this basis, the audit examined whether there is clarity and documentation to support the 'what', 'how', 'who' and 'when' relating to the discharge of the state's role.