Desirability - is the Procurement Route Desirable?

3.12  The underlying considerations relating to desirability are:

Desirability

 

Risk Management

-  Does the project involve the purchase of a capital asset?

-  Are the risks of cost and time overruns likely to be significant?

-  Are there significant operational cost risks?

 

Innovation

-  Is there likely to be scope for innovation in service delivery?

 

Service Provision

-  What is the role of soft services i.e. facilities management?

-  Are there good strategic reasons to retain soft services in house?

-  Is soft service transfer essential for achieving improved service delivery?

 

Incentivisation

-  Is incentivisation likely to result in enhanced service delivery?

 

Lifecycle Costs and Residual Value

-  Is it possible to integrate asset design, construction and operation?

-  Is it possible to achieve significant whole life cost savings?

3.13  The following risks should be considered on a Programme / Project Level basis:

Risks

1.  Design: can the service provider be made responsible for ensuring the design is fit for purpose and for all resources required for design and development activity?

2.  Financing: can the service provider be made responsible for establishing and maintaining the funding for service provision throughout the contract life?

3.  Implementation: can the service provider be made responsible for all aspects of implementation, transition and certification?

4.  Operation: can the service provider be made responsible for delivery of a high quality service at required levels of availability and continuity?

5.  Usage: can the service provider be made responsible for costs associated with variations in demand?

6.  Regulatory change: can the service provider be made responsible for the consequences of changes in non-discriminatory legislation, such as national minimum wage?

7.  Obsolescence: can the service provider be made responsible for ensuring that  the technology underpinning service delivery - and the service delivery mechanism itself - remains consistent with contemporary market standards?

8.  Service provider lock-in: can the service provider be made responsible for ensuring that the service is provided in such a way as not to constrain the Authority's ability to continue to meet its requirements cost-effectively in due course via an alternative supplier/solution?

9.  Residual value/disposal: can the service provider be made responsible for the residual value of the assets at the conclusion of the service contract?

3.14  In assessing the above considerations, the relevant benefits of different procurement routes should be assessed (for example, by reviewing optimal risk transfer; the impact of signing a long term service contract; the scope for innovation; the appropriateness of internal / external FM provision; the relationship between design, whole life costing and operation).