6.4.1 There are other means by which the Authority can help reduce the Contractor's due diligence costs. It may, to the extent possible, disclose the contents of or assign the benefit of any reports or surveys it commissions from third party consultants direct to the Contractor (or the bidders) or share the benefit of such reports or surveys with them having reached an agreement on cost sharing. If the Authority wants to follow this route, it must ensure that when it appoints the relevant consultant that it agrees to take on the work on the basis of such assignment or sharing of the benefit.114 In addition, if this approach is to be of value to the Contractor, the relevant report or survey must be up-to-date and address the issues of particular concern to the Contractor and, where possible, its financiers.
6.4.2 A practical option for bidders to consider is to share the cost of carrying out expensive aspects of due diligence by jointly appointing a consultant.
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114 See, for instance, the BSF schools programme in England.