In relation to the efficiency of PPP procurement processes, please provide your views on the items below. Where possible, please provide examples to facilitate understanding of the views expressed.
Overview
1 What do you consider are the key contributing factors to inefficiencies within the Australian PPP procurement process?
Structure of PPP Procurement Processes
2 Do you have suggested improvements as to the structure of the typical Australian PPP procurement process, including potential precedent processes employed in international jurisdictions?
3 Please provide your views on the overall timeframes typically associated with the procurement process from release of EOI documentation to the achievement of contractual and financial close. Where you have suggested alternate processes in question 2 above, please comment on suggested timeframes to best facilitate value for money outcomes.
Bid Costs
4 Are there any significant costs associated with typical EOI processes and, if so, do you have suggestions for potential process improvements?
5 Please provide details of the order of magnitude of bid costs, post-EOI, for a typical PPP project, including how this might vary for small medium and large-scale projects.
6 Where possible please provide details as to the breakdown of typical bid costs, in particular in relation to design (including relevant components), legal, financial arranging (where appropriate), tax structuring, submission costs and any other key components.
7 For the key components identified, please provide detail as to how the process may be improved and indicate where it could achieve savings, including the assumed savings impact.
Information Requested
8 Do you consider that the level of information typically requested at EOI is appropriate? If not, please provide detail as to potential improvements.
9 Which elements of RFP documentation do you consider unnecessary for the initial bid submission? For specific elements identified, please suggest an appropriate time for submission (if applicable) and how Governments can achieve certainty to the extent they have not received information as part of the bid process.
10 To the extent not already addressed within Question 6 and 7above, please identify areas of project brief documentation that have a significant influence on bid costs and explain why.
11 Please identify other potential improvements with regard to quality and content of RFP documentation and, in particular, the proposal requirements.
Probity Requirements
12 Do you consider that probity processes can be overly restrictive and prevent the achievement of best value for money outcomes for Government? If so, please suggest process improvements that could increase efficiency whilst maintaining integrity of process and continuing to protect public interest.
In responding to the above, please also nominate projects in which you consider probity has been well managed and where it could be improved, and suggest why you think different approaches were used.
Other Considerations
Please provide details of any other key concerns or issues in relation to the efficiency of Australian PPP processes, including any recommended