Appendix 4 Chronology of key events

Phase

Date

 

Feasibility and preparation

May 1994

Contributions Agency submit a proposal for a traditional Crown Build redevelopment of Longbenton to the Treasury.

Feasibility and preparation

September 1994

A Report by Storey Sons and Parker recommends that a Private Finance solution is not feasible for the Longbenton site alone.

Feasibility and preparation

November 1994

Agency establishes a Project Board for the redevelopment of the Newcastle Estate as the scope of the Private Finance solution is widened to include other sites in the Newcastle area in addition to Longbenton.

Competition

January 1995

The Agency formally invite private sector interest in the Official Journal of the European Community.

Competition

7 February 1995

The Agency issue a briefing document and questionnaire to firms expressing interest.

Competition

10 March 1995

Closing date for returned questionnaires. 14 responses received.

Competition

4 April 1995

Agency issues Department's outline service requirement to the eight consortia they had selected to make proposals.

Competition

May 1995

Presentation and evaluation of indicative proposals by the eight consortia, from whom the Agency select a short list of three.

Competition

July 1995

Agency issues Department's detailed service requirement to the three short-listed consortia.

Competition

September 1995

Evaluation of indicative prices submitted by the short-listed bidders, and comparison with the earlier, Crown Build scheme.

Competition

15 November 1995

Agency issues Invitation to Negotiate to the short-listed consortia.

Competition

25 January 1996

Agency issues Invitation to Tender, requesting firm priced bids (Best and Final Offers) from the consortia.

Competition

16 February 1996

Best and Final Offers received from the three short-listed consortia.

Competition

February-May 1996

Agency evaluates Best and Final Offers and requests clarification of aspects of each bidder's proposal.

Negotiation

20 June 1996

Agency announces that the Newcastle Estate Partnership consortium are the preferred bidder, with whom negotiations begin, and Tyne Partnership are the reserve supplier.

Negotiation

January 1997

Agency releases Tyne Partnership as reserve supplier.

Negotiation

15 August 1997

The Department and the Newcastle Estate Partnership reach commercial agreement on the terms of the PFI deal, leading to the signature of conditional contracts ("Commercial Close").

Arrangement of funding

September 1997

The Newcastle Estate Partnership replaces Bankers Trust as funding bank, so that the deal in its entirety becomes funded by the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Completion

30 December 1997

Contracts signed by the Department.

 

8 January 1998

Contracts become effective as funding arrangements completed ("Financial Close") and Newcastle Estate Partnership sign the contract.