Type of Organization

i. Interest Groups (Please specify in question 3a)

Labor union representing professional employees in state government including transportation workers.

Top benefits of PPP

I see none in its present form. Having lived through [project] which used this dangerous and wasteful construction scheme and having witnessed the dismissal of our struggles to ensure greater oversight by enough workers who represent the taxpayer's interests, there is little to like about this practice.

PPP Concern 1

Public Safety: The lack of proper oversight with full authority by state DOT engineers, resulting in a "fox watching the chicken house" scenario and public safety concerns.

PPP Concern Mitigation 1

Any such contract must have strict language as to who is in charge, who has authorization to stop projects and who is responsible for failures of the process and who represents the public's interest. Unfettered private interest with profit motives will cut corners every time.

PPP Concern 2

Too cozy relationship between the public entity, which should be there for enforcement and oversight, and the private sector.

PPP Concern Mitigation 2

Need strong demarcation between private and public interest responsibilities. This concept of one big happy family, and we are all in this together mindset has had dire consequences as we all now realize. Public employees in their role should not be reporting to private contractors. Causes huge oversight problems. This should be prohibited. [(previously referenced project) scenario].

PPP Concern 3

Lack of cost benefit analysis to ensure there are any cost savings or benefits using these practices.

PPP Concern Mitigation 3

Federal decision makers should require a cost-benefit analysis particularly in areas of survey, design, materials and construction inspections, and maintenance to ascertain if practice is saving any tax dollars compared to DOT engineers performing these services. Many states have established criteria for such analysis with huge cost savings being realized.

PPP Concern 4

Public Access to Private Company documents.

PPP Concern Mitigation 4

Contract must clearly state that any and all documents relating to a particular project are accessible to the "public" under FOIA or other state regulations.

PPP Concern 5

Conflicts of interests

PPP Concern Mitigation 5

Open door policies that allowed state engineers and private sector employees to move from one entity to the other unfettered on the same project [(previously referenced project)]. Need checks and balances possibly outright prohibition. (Who is my master conflict?)

Factors to consider by decision-makers

How to Ensure Public Safety.

Are there actual Cost Savings?

Is there enough oversight by state engineers?

Are there strict rules for line of Command? Who has Responsibilities and Authority over project aspects including failures? Are the penalties enough to deter?

Are their sufficient policies in place to prevent conflicts of interest?

What are the consequences of finances if contractor files bankruptcy?

Contract structures/techniques to protect public interests

A return to old, well-established construction techniques with the right checks and balances that existed and worked well before the profiteers and the smaller government crowd dismantled a proven process in order to increase their profits. Government entities, particularly decision makers, were sold a bill of goods. No tunnels or bridges were collapsing with the proven methods we once used. Now everyone feels unsafe.

Other perspectives

I would strongly suggest for insightful reading on this subject the numerous documents prepared by the [state's] and U.S. Inspectors General and the [state] State Auditor's Office on the [previously referenced project] for lessons learned on the biggest PPI boondoggle, known to man.