Agreeing the process and methodology and communicating with all interested parties, including agreeing sources of information and validating data, are key to the management stage. Where there is failure to agree the outcome, the process normally moves from benchmarking to market testing.

Whilst the word 'benchmarking' relates to the exercise of technical cost comparison, it also means the surrounding process by which public and private sector partners approach and conduct a negotiation intended as a sub-set of a longer term contractual partnership. 

The role of the Project Company should be outlined, and the avoidance of conflict of interest and the need for transparency established. Ensuring openness and fair competition and the development of clear and objective evaluation criteria are key to the success of market testing.