At the time this report was published, there were more than 400 signed private finance initiative (PFI) contracts. The report aimed to highlight key issues that authorities need to consider when developing and managing relationships with service providers. The key question it sought to answer was whether authorities manage their PFI relationships to secure a successful partnership.
The survey included authorities and contractors responsible for managing 121 PFI projects where contracts were let before 2000. Various other public sector bodies were also surveyed. The response rate was 90 per cent from public authorities and 75 per cent from contractors. The topics surveyed relevant to the review of operational projects were the relationship with the contractor, building blocks for a successful partnership, contract management mechanisms, staffing of the contract management function, administration of the contract, learning from others, and actual performance.