Strategies used in comparable countries (particularly Canada) that have improved procurement efficiency and reduced bid costs include:
• rigorous adherence to project timetables and the general avoidance of further bid stages
• less information requirements, relying more on the preferred bidder developing its proposal (both before and after commercial close) and on the protections within the project contract
• less of an emphasis on architectural design and design innovation
• some form of substantial contributions towards bid costs
• greater standardisation of contracts, with contracts being rolled forward to subsequent projects without substantive amendment
• less focus on third party income or development gains as a source of value for money
Although noting the above, Australian Governments value their emphasis on design in PPP projects (including operational efficiency) and potential third party income as key sources of wider value for money, so some of these strategies are not appropriate for Australia.