4  Expressions of Interest Phase

Comprehensive project development leads to the next stage of issuing an invitation for Expressions of Interest ("EOI") to the marketplace.

As discussed in the project development phase section, while some consultation with market participants and marketing of the project is expected (and encouraged) to precede this stage, the EOI phase is the first step in the formal bidding process.

The purpose of the invitation for EOI is to:

•  formally advise the market of the project and the services that government seeks to have delivered;

•  communicate to the market the proposed timeframes, evaluation criteria and hurdles to be met for the project to move forward;

•  confirm the level of market interest in the project and provide an avenue through which potential EOI respondents can comment on the proposed project structure; and

•  gain EOI responses from the market which allow government to shortlist bidders to proceed to the RFP phase who are most capable of meeting project objectives over the project term.