To carry out a successful bidding process, the public contracting authority and its team of advisers need to ensure that all key questions related to the bidding process have been adequately addressed. For example:

□ Is the institution responsible for awarding and managing the bidding process clearly identified?

□ Does the format of the pre-qualification documents allow bidders to present information about themselves and clearly sets out the evaluation criteria and processes applicable in pre-qualification complying with the openness and transparency required by EU legislation?

□ Do the pre-qualification evaluation criteria include all relevant features related to the quality and strength of the bidders in terms of their capacity to deliver and their awareness of the TEN-T PPP project?

□ Does the invitation to tender document include a draft PPP contract, which should set out, among other things, the payment mechanism and penalty regime, and all necessary project data, and output requirements of the public contracting authority?

□ Does the invitation to tender document contain all essential components of the TEN-T project, especially the minimum technical, environmental, legal and financial requirements to be provided by bidders which constitute a compliant bid?

□ Have adequate provisions ensuring no warranties and setting rules of access to the data room been included in the invitation to tender document?

□ Have all critical processes necessary to manage the interaction with bidders during the bidding process (including a code of conduct, communication with bidders, audit trails and meetings, consortia changes and bidders due diligence) been considered and implemented?

□ Have the evaluation criteria and processes been established and evaluation teams and committees appointed before bids are submitted?

□ Have both public and private sectors considered specific issues of TEN-T funding? Has LGTT or any other specialised financial instrument been considered, if applicable?