1. This guidance and documentation applies to all Scottish health PPP projects launching to the market after 1 June 2007 The attached documentation standardises the information requested from bidders and can be used to select a long list of bidders thereby providing commonality of approach and minimising costs at this preliminary procurement stage.
2. Annex 1 contains a series of detailed questions which are designed to probe bidders' technical capability, capacity and financial strength in order to determine whether they can deliver a PFI scheme.
3. The content and structure of the questions are mandatory and should not be added to or otherwise amended without reference to the SG Capital Planning and Asset Management Division. A structured evaluation methodology has been devised to operate alongside the standard questions. This methodology incorporates sufficient flexibility for NHS Boards and their advisers to exercise judgement where it is needed.
4. Annex 2 contains details of the weighting system for the quantitative comparison of bidders' responses. NHS Boards should inform bidders of the total scores allocated to each section of the PQQ to assist in focusing their responses.
5. The combination of a mandatory information request and a tailored evaluation system will ensure that NHS Boards select the right bidders for progression to the Invitation to Participate in Dialogue (ITPD) stage.
6. As with all procurement processes and decisions, NHS Boards must ensure they are compliant with Scottish and EU Procurement Regulations.