After determining what is possible from a legislative and statutory perspective, the next step is to define the project needs and the parameters for meeting those needs. What does the plant need to do? What technology is appropriate for accomplishing this? How can the asset be delivered and maintained as efficiently as possible?
To begin, the authority needs to answer some primary questions: What does the plant need to do? What kind of volume does it need to handle? Does it need to improve on any of its existing processes? It then defines some criteria by which waste treatment technologies will be screened to determine the most appropriate one for the project, and the associated construction, operating and life-cycle costs.
It identifies the following evaluation criteria:
• Has a small footprint
• Is capable of receiving seepage
• Produces a lower volume of sludge
• Is easy to operate and does not require a high level of operator training
• Uses existing building
• Is redundant (can be maintained and serviced without process interruption)
• Meets mandated effluent standards
After officials have screened existing technologies against these criteria, a preferred technology emerges. When considering the use of PPP as a procurement option, the Authority must decide whether it wishes to define the required technology solution or allow the private sector to propose technology alternatives. This depends on whether or not the Authority wants to retain design or technology risk in the project.
The next step is to think through how project needs may evolve over time and to identify some parameters that affect how the service might be delivered over the long-term. For example, how far into the future is it possible to predict the need for services? The answer to this question will affect which delivery models the organization can consider, since some of the partnership approaches are feasible only if demand for the new plant's services remains strong for quite some time or if the service delivery model will not change significantly. In this case, the organization has a long-term need for services. (See table C.2 for additional parameters identified for the project.)
Based on the project needs identified, all of the partnership options outlined above remain in the running.