12.7 One of the project team's first tasks will be to define the project brief based upon the established business need. The team will need to have access to the skills required to define the requirements of the brief and how to understand design proposals when they are tabled.
12.8 Where necessary, design consultants should be chosen at this stage for their detailed technical understanding of the issues and ability to be open minded and to explore what the options mean. Terms of appointment should reflect the nature of their involvement. The client organisation should seek professional design advisors, who have more to contribute at this stage than aesthetically creative architects. Creativity should focus on the generation of new options for delivering healthcare.
12.9 A procurement involving design and construction services is complex and requires a thorough understanding of the construction marketplace. It is unlikely that such knowledge can be found other than within the industry, among advisors with sound construction project management experience. Not only must a client body understand its project, but it must also have access to national and international market knowledge. It is inadequate for the in-house and external advisors only to have experience of public capital procurement. Broad previous experience is essential in the more integrated procurement routes such as PPP, Guaranteed Maximum Price and "Design and Build".