The RIBA identified the poor quality and timing of design in PFI projects as a major problem that had yet to be tackled, despite nearly fifteen years of PFI experience. Following a series of events including an expert seminar with cross-industry representatives, the institute began to identify the problems affecting PFI-principally high bid costs and low quality of design-and some possible solutions.
The RIBA's "Smart PFI" consultation proposed some alternative models to Government, fellow professionals and the wider construction industry. The first model we proposed provided a mechanism that gives the public sector client responsibility for the establishment of need, strategic planning, quality objectives, concept design and the determination of affordability. This requires public sector clients to be better informed, and to take a higher degree of preparation, including design work, before going to the market. We firmly believe that this model will result in a significantly improved design solution while simultaneously reducing both the cost and time required to complete the PFI bidding process.